I was surprised to learn that Star Trek’s first female captain was not Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway

Star Trek: Voyager introduced the world to Captain Kathryn Janeway (played by Kate Mulgrew) in 1995. Mulgrew created history in Star Trek by being the first female captain to lead a show. However, she was not the first female captain to appear on screen in Star Trek. That honor is reserved for Madge Sinclair, who portrayed the role of the first African American female Captain in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Sinclair appeared in the 1986 Star Trek movie in an unnamed role as the Captain of the USS Saratoga. Though her role was brief, it was a significant historical moment nonetheless. But that wasn’t the last time audiences saw Sinclair. She once again adorned the commander’s uniform when she portrayed the role of Captain Silva La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Female captains in Star Trek

Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series was a trailblazer. She was one of the first African American women with a prominent role on television in 1966, paving the way for more diversity in the franchise. After about 20 years, Madge Sinclair appeared as the unnamed Captain of the USS Saratoga in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in 1986.

In the movie, Madge Sinclair plays the role of the commander of a starship that encounters a mysterious alien probe. She tries to send a friendly transmission to the alien entity, but all attempts to communicate with the probe are unhelpful. The probe’s call is carried on an amplified wave, which affects the ship’s systems, and it stops functioning. Admiral James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) and the crew on board a Klingon Bird of Prey will end up traveling back in time to stop the probe from attacking the Earth.

Sinclair again made a comeback to the franchise as Captain Silva La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In Season 7, episode 3 titled ‘Interface’, she plays the role of Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge’s (played by LeVar Burton) mother. In the episode, she was commanding the ship USS Hera, which goes missing along with the crew on board.

In 1995, Kate Mulgrew became the first female captain to lead her own show in Star Trek. Her portrayal of Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager became a fan favorite, owing to her vast knowledge and reputable leadership qualities. While speaking to The Huffington Post, Mulgrew said,

“The beauty of ‘Star Trek’ is that Roddenberry was very far-seeing…Gender regarding the Captain’s seat was a unilateral thing. It transcended all of those classifications. I think that I played Janeway as I would play her today.”

Sonequa Martin-Green also made history when she became the first African American woman to lead a Star Trek series. She plays the role of Captain Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery. During an Entertainment Tonight Comic-Con 2019 interview, Martin-Green shared her thoughts on the significance of her role in the Star Trek universe. She said,

"I mean, I can’t even express what it means to me. You know we have so many elements of diversity on our show, and you know we’re trying to push that needle forward and keep up with the essence of what Star Trek is but just being a black woman at the helm of it and hearing from young girls especially, it makes me cry and I just thank God."

Another noteworthy female commander in Star Trek is Captain Carol Freeman, voiced by Dawnn Lewis in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. She was the commanding officer of the USS Cerritos. She was one of the more sought-after Starfleet Captains who was known for her conflict resolution approaches and her loyalty to her crew. While speaking to Comics Beat, Lewis reflected on the character. She said,

“I hope Captain Freeman’s legacy is being a leader committed to excellence and compassion. She’s not somebody who’s going to ask you to do something that she herself, if need be, wouldn’t go ahead and do, if it needed to be done.”

These characters have become pioneers in modern pop culture. And thanks to them, Star Trek will continue to have more women take on leadership roles on screen and beyond.

Star Trek: The Original Series was created by Gene Roddenberry in 1966.

ALSO READ: The Kobayashi Maru scenario remains the most notorious simulation for Starfleet cadets in Star Trek and here’s why

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