Diplomatic Corps
From Star Trek: Theurgy Wiki
The diplomatic officer was a Starfleet position in use during the 24th century. The Federation Diplomatic Corps was an institution of the United Federation of Planets which was responsible for negotiating treaties with foreign states and maintaining inter-state relations and diplomacy within the Federation. The Starfleet Diplomatic Corps was a department within Starfleet's Command Division, and often the two organisations overlapped in deployment of personnel, officers and civilians alike sometimes representing both or either of the two organisations. The movement of personnel belonging to Starfleet was still governed by the Starfleet Transfer Regulations, just like any other officer. Diplomatic personnel in Starfleet (as opposed to those working for the wider Federation) were in the Command Division. The majority of diplomatic personnel were Line Officers (either graduates of the Academy, or civilian diplomats given a commission to work within Starfleet). Junior officers could be aides or junior members of a delegation. Less vital aspects of a negotiation could be handled by lower ranked diplomats, assuming it would not offend foreign parties, of course.
Chief Diplomatic Officer
The Chief Diplomatic Officer (CDO) of each ship or starbase had to be quite familiar with a range of areas, like Federation foreign policy, intergalactic politics, economics and history. S/he had to be a skilled negotiator and advise his/her CO on current operation status in regard to diplomatic contacts and expected repercussions of different tactics of diplomacy. Moreover, the Chief Diplomatic Officer was in charge of the ship's or starbase's Diplomatic Corps detachment. He or she oversaw the operation of it, and made sure everything in that department was carried out according to Starfleet Regulations and current mission protocols.
Assistant Chief Diplomatic Officer
The Asst. Diplomatic Officer (ACDO) of each ship or starbase, like the CDO, also had to be quite familiar with the same wide range of areas, like Federation foreign policy, intergalactic politics, economics and history. S/he also had to be a skilled negotiator and advise his/her CO on current operation status in regard to diplomatic contacts and expected repercussions of different tactics of diplomacy. The Assistant Chief Diplomatic Officer was the second-in-command of the ship's Diplomatic Corps detachment. If necessary, he or she took the place of the Chief Diplomatic Officer on a temporary or permanent basis.
Diplomatic Attache
A Diplomatic Attache on a ship or starbase also had to be quite familiar with the same wide range of areas, like Federation foreign policy, intergalactic politics, economics and history. Junior Officers could be Diplomatic Attaches.
Diplomat's Aide
The Diplomat's Aide assists the Chief Diplomatic Officer whenever and however needed. The Aide is an enlisted officer who has training in the diplomatic field, and can do the job of a regular diplomatic officer if needed. Junior Officers could be Diplomatic Aides.
Other Roles
In diplomatic relations, there were also other positions and roles figuring during missions, and a few could be considered outside the actual Diplomatic Corps of a starship or starbase:
Ambassador
Recognised by the UFP, an Ambassador was someone with the credentials to act as its representative in the face of other cultures. Ambassadors were given the responsibility of carrying out the interests of the Federation through the act of Diplomacy. Ambassadors were often stationed on foreign soil, to be closely in contact with that planet/faction's Government. However, they could temporarily be assigned aboard a Starfleet ship or a starbase. Ambassadors were usually retired and highly experienced Starfleet personnel, and therefore very rarely held any active rank in Starfleet, even if it might be the case for some individuals. The rank of non-Starfleet Ambassadors varied greatly depending on the alien faction.
Liaison or Envoy
This kind of diplomat acted as a means of communication between different groups or units of an organization, especially in armed forces. They didn't hold the same authority as an Ambassador, rather being a messenger or a representative on a diplomatic mission, perhaps not even a part of Starfleet but a foreign power. They were usually ranking below ambassador and above chargé d'affaires, which was an ambassador's deputy. On the Theurgy, there was a Mission Liaison Officer (Jennifer Dewitt), who advocated the priorities of the ship's mission during relations with foreign powers, and in lack of a Chief Diplomatic Officer also enabled direct communication between the Theurgy's Commanding Officer, the present Diplomatic Attaches and the foreign representatives. There was also a Klingon Liaison Officer (Zyrao Natauna), who enabled communication between the Klingon Defence Force and the Theurgy' Senior Staff.
