A HISTORY OF STARFLEET
Starfleet was formally created on September 24th 2135 by direction of the United Earth Space Probe Agency under legislation approved by the United Earth Congress.​
​​THE UESPA STARFLEET​
​Starfleet was originally created as an office of the United Earth Space Probe Agency and during the first two years of its existence operated from the UESPA headquarters in Houston on Earth (during this period the organization was referred to as the "UESPA Starfleet").​
In August 2135, the UESPA Administrator appointed Doctor Thomas W. Nelson, the head of the UESPA Operations Division, to serve as the first Director of Starfleet Operations. The following month, Dr. Nelson published Starfleet Operations Order #1 which formally established the Earth Starfleet and created the original organizational structure for the Office of Starfleet Operations.​
By October 2135, the initial office of Starfleet Operations had been formed with eighteen UESPA personnel filling the first Starfleet positions. Starfleet Operations Order #2 then created the three primary Starfleet divisions of Command, Engineering, and Science.
The earliest structure of Starfleet in December 2135
​The following month, a new position, known as the Deputy Director of Administration, was established in order to formally begin publishing Starfleet regulations as part of the continued expansion of the organization. By the spring of 2136, Starfleet held a membership of approximately two hundred personnel. To this point, all Starfleet officers had been commissioned from eligible UESPA personnel. In March 2136, the Director of Starfleet Operations authorized Starfleet commissions to Earth Cargo Service personnel with appropriate regulations for lateral transfer.
Captain Thomas Nelson,
Director of Starfleet Operations
In May 2136, the Earth Starfleet was approaching a membership of five hundred personnel, with a target of one thousand members by the end of the year. The Earth Congress then passed a highly significant piece of legislation, allowing Starfleet to appoint flag officers in order to further expand the organization.
On June 3rd 2136, the UESPA Administrator authorized the appointment of Captain Nelson as Starfleet's first flag officer. Dr. Nelson was promoted to Commodore on June 5th, 2136 and immediately reorganized the Office of Starfleet Operations under his new title as Chief of Starfleet Operations. That same month, Starfleet began the process of establishing an independent headquarters in San Francisco.
​In the summ​er of 2137, all Starfleet offices relocated to San Francisco upon the formal opening of Starfleet Headquarters. Although a small liaison office remained at UESPA headquarters in Houston, it was from this point that Starfleet came to be regarded as a nominally independent organization.
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During Starfleet's formative years, all Starfleet officers were appointed by direct commission to personnel of the United Earth Space Probe Agency after recommendation from UESPA executives to the Chief of Starfleet Operations. As the need arose for warp craft certified pilots and security personnel, direct commissions were also offered to personnel of the Earth Cargo Service and the Military Assault Command Operations.
THE UNITED EARTH STARFLEET
In October 2137, as part of the planetary fiscal year allocations, the Earth Congress authorized a large increase of resources to Starfleet and formally approved the promotion of Commodore Nelson, the Chief of Operations to the rank of Rear Admiral.​
By the start of 2138, Starfleet has existed for nearly three years but was essentially a "fleet with no ships". The Earth Congress then issued an appropriation for UESPA to coordinate the construction of six space frigates, which was in turn transmitted to Starfleet.
​​In November 2139, Starfleet suspended direct appointment commissions following the creation of Officer Candidate School. In January 2141, direct appointments were reauthorized for advanced rank personnel who were invited to accept a Starfleet commission by the Chief of Starfleet Operations. Officer commissions were opened to the general public in May 2143.
During the early 2140s, mainly through efforts of Starfleet Engineering and the Office of Special Projects, the focus of Starfleet was on breaking the Warp 2 barrier and creating a new series of warp engines to power Starfleet's first space vessels. By the start of 2143, with only minimal progress from the NX Project, the UESPA Administrator authorized the creation of a Starfleet Command Council in order to provide more direct oversight of Starfleet's warp development program.
In 2144, following the breaking of the Warp 2 barrier the year before by the NX-Project, Starfleet announced the design of the Neptune Class Frigate, which was to be Starfleet's first commissioned starship. Over the course of the next year, Starfleet also began procedures to take control of the Earth Drydock from UESPA. This was followed by an announcement in May 2145 that Starfleet would continue expanding to nearly three times its present size, and was now authorized a greater number as well as higher ranked flag officers.
The promotion of Starfleet's first Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral Thomas Nelson, was announced at the end of May 2145 with a promotion date of June 13th to coincide with the creation of several new Starfleet offices.