Captain Edward Jellico is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. He was the acting captain of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D during negotiations with the Cardassians on stardate 46357.4 in the two-part Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Chain of Command ", in which he was played by Ronny Cox.

Starfleet career

Captain Jellico had begun his career in Starfleet making the Jupiter-Saturn run twice a day. He commanded the starship Cairo before being given command of Enterprise, and it's assumed he returned to that ship after his mission on Enterprise was complete.

Jellico had experience dealing with Cardassians. He helped in the peace talks and the writing of the armistice that ended the first Cardassian war with the Federation.

Captain of the Enterprise

Captain Jellico was given temporary command of Enterprise when Captain Picard was sent on an espionage mission against a Cardassian base. Jellico immediately instituted several changes to the ship's routine, including changing the crew from three eight-hour rotations to four six-hour rotations, ordering Counselor Deanna Troi to wear a standard blue officer's uniform, and removing the lionfish from the captain's ready room. His micro-management style increased tension among the crew, who were used to Picard's trust and more comfortable familiarity. He dismissed Picard's advice to go easier on the crew and Commander William Riker's request for a more lenient schedule.

When Riker protested Jellico's response to the Cardassian capture of Picard, Jellico relieved Riker of duty. He later was forced to ask for Riker's help when he needed an expert shuttle pilot to plant mines around the Cardassian ships hiding in a nebula. He gave Riker permission to gripe at him about his style of command, after which Riker agreed to fly the mission. With Riker's success in laying mines, Jellico was able to threaten the Cardassian fleet and force them to depart and to release Picard.

Picard soon returned to Enterprise and resumed command; Jellico left without ceremony.

After Enterprise

Jellico made no further appearances on any Trek shows or movies. His future has not been documented. It's assumed he returned to Cairo. The New Frontier book series by Peter David, while not canon, suggests that Jellico was eventually promoted to the rank of Admiral.

Analysis

Though Jellico's command style would probably never win him many friends, it was efficient and effective. By allowing Riker to bitterly voice his concerns about Jellico's style and decisions, he let Riker get past frustration and pilot the necessary mission.

The book "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Leadership Lessons from the Next Generation, though not canon, explores Jellico's command of Enterprise. This book took the form of a journal Picard wrote as an educational resource for Starfleet Academy. Picard was critical of Jellico's command style in general as well as Jellico's actions while captain of Enterprise.

After Jellico left Enterprise, Counselor Troi began to wear a standard Starfleet uniform more often.

It's not known whether or not the Enterprise went back to a three watches or remained on a four watch system. Some parts of Starfleet began to maintain a four watch system after finding that it helped reduce fatigue and fatigue-related accidents.