Bridge officer

A bridge officer was an officer whose station or main duties took place on the bridge of a starship. A group of bridge officers were collectively known as the bridge staff.

In 2366, Picard ordered Riker to "assemble the bridge staff for a mission briefing in fifteen minutes."

For a bridge officer to be eligible to take command, the Bridge Officer's Test had to be passed. 

Even acting ensigns, such as Wesley Crusher, could be bridge officers. 

If a non-bridge officer and a bridge officer held the same rank, the bridge officer was considered the ranking officer. 

In 2374, Ixtana'Rax threatened to kill all the USS Defiant (2370) bridge officers if there was the slightest sign of treachery. 

During The Doctor's legal proceedings against Broht & Forrester, Harry Kim testified that thanks to command subroutines being added to his program, "in an emergency, he's as capable as any bridge officer."