I Forgot Chief O’Brien Was In Star Trek: TNG From The Very Beginning

Whenever I re-watch Star Trek: The Next Generation, I look forward to seeing Chief Miles Edward O’Brien (Colm Meaney) in the transporter rooms of the USS Enterprise. Although Chief O’Brien first enlisted in Starfleet during the war against the Cardassians, during his lifetime of service to the United Federation of Planets, Chief O’Brien served many roles. From Tactical officer on the USS Rutledge, to Transporter Chief during TNG, to Chief Engineer during Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Chief O’Brien proved capable of rising to any occasion set before him.

So, I was inclined to agree with Star Trek: Lower Decks’ tribute to Chief O’Brien, declaring him the most important man in Starfleet history. Chief O’Brien bridged the gap between The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and over his long Star Trek tenure, Chief O’Brien had some great episodes in both shows. Nevertheless, I don’t really remember much about Chief O’Brien from the early seasons of TNG. Since the character didn’t really come into his own until later, I was pleasantly surprised to realize just how long Chief O’Brien has been a part of Star Trek.

Chief O’Brien Was In Star Trek: TNG Since Its Season Premiere

But He Didn’t Get A Name Until TNG Season 2

In the very first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Encounter at Farpoint,” Colm Meaney walks onto the Enterprise’s battle bridge. In the credits for the episode, Meaney is credited as “Battle Bridge Con,” not “Miles O’Brien.” Indeed, in this first appearance, Meaney wears the red uniform of Command Division, rather than Chief O’Brien’s normal gold Operations Division uniform. Colm Meaney would appear in one other episode of TNG season 1, “Lonely Among Us,” this time in his classic uniform, credited as “First Security Guard.” So, although Chief O’Brien was there from the beginning, his character was undefined.

In this first appearance, Meaney wears the red uniform of Command Division, rather than Chief O’Brien’s normal gold Operations Division uniform.

Chief O’Brien didn’t receive his surname until Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 7, “Unnatural Selection,” when Colm Meaney finally officially appears as Transporter Chief Miles O’Brien. Not only does Chief O’Brien feature in this episode, but his specialized transporter knowledge is also instrumental in solving the crisis of the episode, just one of the many times transporters saved lives on Star Trek. From this episode onward, Chief O’Brien became a regular on TNG, even if he wasn’t a part of the bridge crew.

Colm Meaney as Chief O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine

This Great Chief O’Brien Star Trek: TNG Moment Proved Why He Deserved To Become A DS9 Main Character

One moment in Star Trek: TNG proved that Chief Miles O’Brien was a complex character who belonged in the main cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4’s “The Wounded,” Chief O’Brien gained a backstory, fleshing out his character. It’s not really surprising, then, that I didn’t draw a connection between the Transporter Chief war veteran and the unnamed command division bridge officer from “Encounter at Farpoint.”

Chief O’Brien Appeared In 212 Episodes Of Star Trek Over 12 Years

Making Him One Of The Most Important Men In Star Trek And Starfleet

I thought I loved Transporter Chief Miles Obrien in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but I didn’t know just how epic he could be until I watched Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In total, Chief O’Brien was in 52 episodes of TNG and Chief Engineer O’Brien 160 of DS9 – nearly every episode of the series led by Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). All told, Colm Meaney had an incredible 12-year run on Star Trek packed with some of the best episodes of Deep Space Nine and The Next Generation.

Although a statue of Chief O’Brien is shown in Star Trek: Lower Decks, Colm Meaney did not voice Miles O’Brien in the episode.

Chief O’Brien more than earned his Star Trek: Lower Decks shoutout fighting Cardassians voles on Deep Space Nine and battling microbes in the transporter matter stream on the Enterprise. Ultimately, Chief O’Brien got a near perfect ending on Deep Space Nine, returning to Earth to teach at Starfleet Academy, finally finding a balance between his obligations to his family and to Starfleet.

Composite image of O'Brien looking tearful and O'Brien getting beaten up with his shirt off in Star Trek: DS9

8 Best “O’Brien Must Suffer” Star Trek: DS9 Episodes

“O’Brien Must Suffer” is a subgenre of Star Trek: DS9 episode that gave Colm Meaney new acting challenges. So which of the Chief’s worst days is best?

I may have forgotten that Chief Miles O’Brien was in the very first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but I could never forget the incredible contributions Chief O’Brien made to Star Trek.