Philip Damerell

Officer's Career to Date:

Philip Damerell joined the Academy in 2282, as part of the Academy's short-lived 'Outreach' programme. This was fortunate as he had just been fired from his previous role of 'Pizza Delivery Operative'. After a not unpromising start, this officer's ineptitude shone through. Allegations of cheating in his third year exams were raised but not substantiated and Damerell was allowed to continue his training.

Damerell took part in the eventful final cadet training cruise of the USS Zimmerframe. Whilst not as fatal as the previous years' training cruise, Damerell, as one of the bridge officers, was placed under great stress during the rescue of the liner Aurora. Although he acquitted himself in the highest traditions of the fleet, it is now suspected that this incident laid the foundation for his subsequent behavioural problems.

Upon graduation in 2286 Damerell was posted to the USS Lactulose as Delta shift backup navigator. Sadly he was still recovering from the trauma of the Aurora incident and found the pressure of the role too much, and after four months was re-posted to the USS Griffin as Echo shift relief backup navigator. Thanks in part to his single-handed efforts in re-cataloguing the ship's library in his spare time he earned the promotion to Lieutenant j.g.

After two and a half years aboard the Griffin, during which time he was gradually eased into progressively more demanding roles until he eventually took over as Beta shift navigator, Captain Helga Gottfriedsdottir, well known for her 'short sharp shocks' command method, took command of the Griffin in 2289 and promptly seconded Damerell to the hardship posting of the surface science vessel USS Stanley. Six months of working in sub-arctic conditions in rough seas took their toll on Damerell. When he requested a posting, it was decided to promote him to Lieutenant and give him the low pressure role of commanding officer of the largely automated freighter ZX81. This vessel, with its crew of three, had been operating along the same route for the previous decade. It was therefore felt that this posting would not only offer Damerell the chance to recuperate but allow him to broaden his skill base. Unfortunately the combined stresses of command and having to organise the crew's New Years Eve bash days after taking command proved too much for Damerell, and in January 2290 Damerell was committed to the Tantalus V Rehabilitation Colony having suffered from an extreme psychotic break.

This should have been the end of Damerell's active service career, however there was an unfortunate confusion in the files which resulted in the perfectly healthy Lieutenant Philomena Damerell (no relation) being unexpectedly committed to Tantalus and the current inmate even more unexpectedly receiving a promotion to Lieutenant-Commander and a posting as ship's navigator aboard the USS Psycho. By the time the mistake came to light Philomena Damerell had suffered a nervous breakdown due to the stresses of being on Tantalus and it was decided that the now Lieutenant-Commander Damerell was the more sensible choice to hold the role.

Previous Commanding Officers' Comments:

"Goes to pieces so bluidy fast people get hit by the shrapnel, but pulls himself together again if you give him half a chance."

-    Lieutenant C. Olding, Temporary Commanding Officer USS Zimmerframe

"A loose formation of nerves, neuroses and non-existent navigational skills that pass for a Starfleet officer. Damerell displays all the aptitude for his job that one might reasonably expect from a stuffed aardvark."

-    Capt. H. Gottfriedsdottir. Commanding Officer USS Griffin

"I have never seen an officer throw up so much."

-    Commander W. Harker, Commanding Officer USS Stanley

"Philip has displayed slow and mildly unstable progress. Whilst a pleasant enough fellow, asking him to do anything more complex than tie his shoelaces brings on a shrieking panic-stricken response from Philip that means we have to spend the next hour and a half persuading him to come out of the air conditioning system."

-    Dr. Simon van Gelder, Tantalus V Rehabilitation Colony

Decorations this officer is entitled to:

Axanar Peace Cross

Tantalus V Blue Ribbon for Three Weeks Uninterrupted Calm