William T. Riker (Johnathan Frakes) has been a starship Captain since his promotion in Star Trek: Nemesis, but Star Trek: Picard season 3 perfectly set up his promotion to Admiral. The Starfleet officer Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) once called "the finest officer with whom [he had] ever served," William Riker has been an important presence in the Trek franchise since his introduction in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Despite the accolades he's received, Riker has been slow to climb the ranks. He has turned down more than one offer of a captaincy, choosing instead to remain as the first officer on the USS Enterprise-D. With a ship like the Enterprise and a Captain like Jean-Luc Picard, it's no surprise he stayed as long as he did.
Though he clearly has the credentials necessary to be an Admiral, Riker has had other priorities over the years. When Jean-Luc visits him on Nepenthe in Star Trek: Picard season 1, Riker has taken a break from Starfleet to spend time with his family after the death of his son. Riker and his wife, Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), both experienced tremendous grief over their son's death, and this put a strain on their marriage. The events of Picard season 3 allowed Riker and Troi to reconnect with one another and begin to put their marriage back together. By the end of the season, it seems everything is in place for Riker to accept a promotion to Admiral.
