Serving as First Officer of the USS Enterprise seems like the fast track to becoming Captain, but some of Star Trek's most famous Number Ones never became Captain of the Enterprise. The Starship Enterprise's First Officers are as beloved as their Captains. Some may even argue they are better characters since Number Ones don't shoulder the responsibility of the entire starship and crew. Interestingly, some ambitious Number Ones were simply foiled from becoming Enterprise Captain by circumstance while others didn't desire to sit in the big chair of the United Federation of Planets' flagship.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds established that Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) was the first Number One who became Captain of the Enterprise. Pike took over the big chair after the Constitution Class NCC-1701's inaugural five-year mission ended and Captain Robert April (Adrian Holmes) was promoted to Admiral. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) held the dual position of Science Officer and First Officer of the Enterprise under Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). Spock didn't aspire to succeed Kirk but Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan confirmed Spock became Captain of the Enterprise when it became a training vessel in 2285. However, Pike and Spock are two success stories of Enterprise career advancement in contrast to the amount of First Officers who didn't become Captain of the Enterprise.
