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11[[quoteright:320:[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Uhura_station_4340.jpg]]]]
12[[caption-width-right:320:"Hailing frequencies open, sir."]]
13
14->''"Broadsword calling Danny Boy, Broadsword calling Danny Boy..."''
15-->-- ''Film/WhereEaglesDare''
16
17When TheCaptain needs to contact MissionControl to talk to the VoiceWithAnInternetConnection, he has a number of options. He could call him up on his {{Comm Link|s}}, or maybe even [[WhatAreRecords find a pay phone]]. But maybe this is a job for someone more specialized, or maybe TheCaptain needs someone to delegate this to while he deals with other things. He needs the Communications Officer.
18
19The Communications Officer need not be an officer, and in fact, will often be a lower ranking member tasked with maintaining and operating the complex radio equipment. On a sci-fi show, they will often have a workstation on the bridge of the ship, while in a war movie, you can expect to see this guy running around two steps behind TheCaptain with a cumbersome backpack radio with a huge whip antenna. Whenever we see MissionControl, expect to see an entire squad of these guys at work. More mundane examples include a secretary in an office, who has the job of screening calls to their boss and sending out messages for them. If he is properly trained, he can also be a [[PersonOfMassDestruction disproportionately dangerous individual]], using his radio equipment to call in artillery fire and air strikes, bringing tons of high explosives down on his enemies' heads.
20
21Against savvy enemies, he can expect to [[ShootTheMageFirst draw fire]], especially if he has one of the bigger backpack radios. You can't [[GondorCallsForAid call for]] [[TheCavalry help]] if nobody alive can use the communications equipment. If TheRadioDiesFirst, they can be expected to be hard at work trying to fix it, or helplessly declaring that it can't be done.
22
23Overlaps with MissionControl. Will often be working as one of the BridgeBunnies. A key member of the CommandRoster.
24
25----
26!!Examples:
27
28[[foldercontrol]]
29
30[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
31* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': Within Colonel Mustang's group of soldiers, Fuery is the one who is most often seen operating radio equipment.
32* ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'':
33** Amy Limietta had this role in the [[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha first]] and [[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs second]] seasons. Once had the unfortunate luck of getting thrown in a situation where [[YouAreInCommandNow she had to take the role of commanding officer]] when an emergency occurred while everyone ranked higher than her was away.
34** From ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' and [[Manga/MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce beyond]], Lucino, Alto, and Shari all have this role in addition to their other duties [[CoolStarship starship]] helmswoman, helicopter pilot, and [[GadgeteerGenius device meister]] respectively.
35* ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'': Megumi Reinard is the communications officer aboard the titular battleship. She was apparently picked for the position due to her previous career as a voice actress.
36* ''Manga/KuroganePukapukaTai'' has Kushiku aboard the ''Unebi'', a young woman with a great talent for decoding enemy transmissions and a rather reclusive personality. She can spend whole days in the radio room without speaking to anyone.
37* In ''Anime/ZettaiMutekiRaijinOh'', the giant robot in question is so complex to operate that it needs ''two'' communications officers.
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Comic Books]]
41* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': The Durlan Nol Lapp serves as the communications officer for Diana's revolutionaries in the Sangtee Empire, this demands that she be a CunningLinguist since most of the revolutionaries are escaped slaves from many worlds and cultures. She writes rousing poetry that gets circulated by the revolutionaries as well.
42[[/folder]]
43
44[[folder:Fan Works]]
45* Like his movie portrayal, Dr. [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonHumans Rick Stanton]] is presented throughout the Franchise/MonsterVerse fic ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'' managing the Monarch top brass's long-range communications.
46[[/folder]]
47
48[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
49* Mrs. Packard on ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', although she spends most of the time chatting up her friend over the phone (which, unless she's also in the submarine, [[FridgeLogic would be quite a feat using 1914 technology]]).
50[[/folder]]
51
52[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
53* In ''Film/AppointmentWithVenus'', Sergeant Forbes is a radio operator with experience of operating behind enemy lines whose main role on the mission is tote around the backpack-sized radio and keep the squad in contact with their naval backup and headquarters in London. He also [[CutPhoneLines cuts the phone lines]] to cripple communication of the island before they evacuate.
54* ''Film/CrimsonTide'' has Seaman Vosler on whom the fate of the world hinges as he must put a radio back together almost from scratch in order to receive a message from the President.
55* ''Film/DownPeriscope'' has Nitro, a skilled but very [[CloudCuckooLander eccentric]] electrician who manages to coerce the [[WhatAPieceOfJunk aging ship's]] radio equipment to work via various short-circuits (including several passing through [[AmusingInjuries his own body]]).
56* ''Film/FantasticVoyage'' has Charles Grant, a rare example of where the Communications Officer is also TheHero.
57* Parodied in ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' with Lt. Tawny Madison, Gwen's character from the ShowWithinTheShow. All she did was relay orders to and from the computer.
58-->I have one job on this lousy ship, it's ''stupid'', but I'm gonna do it! Okay?
59* ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'': Dr. [[Characters/MonsterVerseMonarch Rick Stanton]] has shades of this when most of {{the team}} are gathered on the ''Argo''[='s=] bridge; being the one who tries to track the [[EcoTerrorist eco-terrorists]]' video call, who remotely discovers that the ''Argo''[='s=] hangar doors are jammed, and who receives and screens Admiral Stenz' video call, all from his work-station.
60* In ''Film/MemphisBelle'', Danny serves as the radioman for the eponymous airplane. At one point in the mission, he is even able to tune into music broadcast by the Armed Forces Network back in England, which he pipes over the intercom for the rest of the crew's enjoyment.
61* ''Film/NeverSoFew'': A young Creator/CharlesBronson plays Sgt. Danforth, the Navajo "code talker" with a special forces unit, who speaks in unbreakable Navajo code with command staff back in Calcutta.
62* Though unnamed, ''Film/{{Platoon}}'' featured a radio man alongside the commanding officer during the climatic battle, matching his commander's pacing so that the cord was never pulled tight. Given that the actor portraying the commander was the technical advisor and actual veteran commander, this was probably very close to RealLife.
63* In ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' a shore party radio man gets a brief appearance on Omaha Beach before he loses most of his face.
64* In ''Film/SmallSoldiers'', Link Static serves this role in the Commando Elite.
65* ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' had a series of ([[RedShirt often short-lived]]) characters fulfilling this role, with [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend Dizzy]] and [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Ace]] each taking on the role towards the end of the film.
66* ''Franchise/StarWars'' ups the ante with communication ''ships'', tasked with maintaining communications in spite of the heavy jamming on any battlefield. Some specific examples are:
67** During the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems would use the ''Munificent''-class frigates for this role, as the [=InterGalactic=] Banking Clan had already equipped them with advanced communication suits for their own purposes before they joined the Separatists. This actually helped them on the strategic level, as the Republic has near complete control of the [[SubspaceAnsible HoloNet]] and without the ''Munificents'' the Separatists would have had serious trouble communicating on interstellar scale... Or [[PropagandaMachine putting their own news on the HoloNet through their Shadow Feeds]].
68** At the Battle of Endor, the Empire had ''multiple'' communication ships, each also being in the command chain right after the flagship, the ''Executor'' - and [[GenreSavvy knowing this]], the Rebels actually make a point of going after them first to break their cohesion by taking out both the flagships and the communications:
69*** The ''Pride of Tarlandia'' is the main communication ship and the secondary flagship, also tasked with jamming the Rebel scanners. Owing to her role she's not a Star Destroyer but a larger battlecruiser, allowing it to survive when a Mon Calamari cruiser comes after it... But it doesn't come out unscathed, allowing Rebel fighters to finish it off while the shields are still weak.
70*** The ''Avenger'' is the secondary communication ship (tertiary in Legends). Contrary to the ''Pride of Tarlandia'' it survives the battle, owing to the Imperial fleet just breaking down when the secondary flagship, the Death Star shield and the ''Executor'' are taken out in quick succession.
71*** In ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' the secondary communication ship and tertiary flagship was the ''Chimaera'', and as such had admiral Horst Strage on board - and was targeted by the Rebels for it, causing Strage's death and his job falling to his first officer, commander Gilad Pellaeon. As the other Imperial admirals at Endor were dead or otherwise unable to take over,[[note]]admiral Blitzer Harrsk commanded a formation that joined Death Squadron at Endor and was next in command after Piett of the ''Executor'', the admiral on the ''Pride'', and Strage, but had been critically wounded and was incommunicado. Of the four ''Grand Admirals'' on the Death Star, Nial Declann had died with the Death Star, [[KnowWhenToFoldEm Afsheen Makati realized he wasn't up to the task and fled to his main command to fight another day]], [[DirtyCoward Miltin Takel fled as soon as he realized they were losing]], and Osvald Teshik didn't manage to escape the Death Star and rally the fleet until most of it had already fled[[/note]] Pellaeon, knowing he was outmatched, [[KnowWhenToFoldEm ordered a general retreat to preserve as much of the fleet as possible]].
72* ''Film/SuperTroopers'' has [[JerkAss Farva]] given this job at the highway department as punishment after [[NoodleIncident the school bus incident]]. Meanwhile, [[FairCop Ursula]] is tasked with the same job at the Spurbury Police Department [[StayInTheKitchen because she's a woman.]]
73** Actually, Ursula later reveals that they keep her on dispatch because [[spoiler:the rest of them are {{Corrupt Cop}}s who help Canadian drug lords move marijuana through Spurbury]].
74* ''Film/TheThing1982'' has a character who serves this role appropriately named "Windows" (possibly a nickname meaning "window to the outside world"), although a dead radio made it impossible for him to ever contact anybody.
75* The Communications Officer from ''Film/ToraToraTora'' receives a telephone message that radar operators have detected a large group of aircraft approaching Oahu from the north. "Yeah? Well, don't worry about it," he replies, mistaking the sighting for a flight of B-17's due that morning.
76* ''Film/{{Valkyrie}}'', about an attempt to assassinate UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, has a panel of women at switchboards, telephones and telegraphs receiving messages from lesser officers, and sending orders from MissionControl commanders. One of these ladies gets the message "Der Fuhrer ist Tot." She worriedly hands the message to a general, which ultimately activates an emergency protocol code-named Valkyrie that places UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}} under the control of Colonel von Stauffenberg, AllAccordingToPlan.
77** Later, word comes through that Hitler is still alive. Not knowing which to believe, he sends through both.
78* ''Film/VoyageToTheBottomOfTheSea'' (1961). The comm officer aboard the Seaview (a U.S. government vessel) was called Sparks.
79* ''Film/WeWereSoldiers'': A number of radio operators are mixed in amongst the soldiers, with [[RedShirt several unnamed ones]] getting shot and killed during firefights. Another one, after proving himself particularly skilled by managing to tune in on radio transmissions from a battle happening on the other side of the Earth[[note]]RealityIsUnrealistic. This actually happened, owing to a quirk of UHF radio signals that allows them to bounce off the upper atmosphere[[/note]], is assigned as Colonel Moore's personal radioman.
80** The movie also had a radioman whose primary responsibility was calling in fire support. [[AllThereInTheManual According to the book the film was based on]], he was actually a [[AcePilot fighter pilot]] by trade. The idea of the military being that a pilot with experience delivering close air support would be better able to evaluate what would be best and call it in more efficiently.
81*** Still standard practice. In the US Marine Corps it's part of a pilot's normal career path to spend time in the infantry. In the Army it's an enlisted Air Force NCO living with the infantry.
82* ''Film/{{Windtalkers}}'' is based on two Navajo enlistees fighting with the Marines in the Pacific theater. They function as the radiomen in their platoon, because the Navajo language defies all efforts to decrypt, making efforts to sabotage their messages futile. TheHero actually kills one of them rather than let him be captured by the enemy.
83[[/folder]]
84
85[[folder:Literature]]
86* Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/TheNumberOfTheBeast''. When Hildy Burroughs is captain of the ''Gay Deceiver'', Zebadiah ("Zeb") Burroughs acts as her comm officer, especially when talking with the British colonists on Mars.
87* Adele Mundy in the ''[[Literature/{{RCN}} Republic of Cinnabar]]'' series.
88* ''Literature/TheShadow'': Burbank is the most mysterious of The Shadow's agents. Since he is quite skilled at electronics, wire tapping and tracking information, his chief duty is central communications for The Shadow and his network of agents and gathering needed facts. Some may argue that he is the most vital person of The Shadow's organization, as he is the only agent able to report directly to The Shadow when he is in his private sanctum. This is done through a special [=AirWire=] radio system.
89* In the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' [[Franchise/StarTrekExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]], Uhura's skills led her to teach communications at Starfleet Academy. Later, thanks to her abilities with cryptography and languages, she eventually became head of Starfleet Intelligence.
90* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' has a few examples:
91** ''Literature/JediQuest'' character Darra Thel-Tanis is an expert at jamming and intercepting signals.
92** In the [[Literature/XWingSeries Wraith Squadron novels]], this is Jesmin Ackbar's specialty. In addition to her experience with the actual communications gear, she is skilled at cryptography and codes, and is able to twice alert Wraith Squadron to forces attempting to ambush them by picking up supposedly encrypted low-power transmissions that the enemy thought were safe to use. After [[spoiler: her death in ''Wraith Squadron'']], Runt begins cross-training to pick up the slack.
93** Following the lead of the films, both Empire and Rebellion have communication ships. The Rebels had an unidentified ship stationed at Sullust keeping the rest of the Alliance informed about what was happening at the Battle of Endor, and the Empire was known to use the ''Allegiance''-class battlecruisers for the role and to broadcast battles they were winning to the whole galaxy. The latter got at least the lead ship destroyed, as during the [[ComicBook/DarkEmpire Battle of Dac]] New Republic reinforcements used the broadcast to home on it and emerge from hyperspace right on top of the ''Allegiance'' with guns blazing.
94* Literature/{{Sten}} seems to like communications officers, as they figure prominently in his command staffs in multiple books, and he even promotes one to Captain.
95* Cpl. Fife is this during his first battle in ''Literature/TheThinRedLine''.
96[[/folder]]
97
98[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
99* ''Series/BabylonFive'': On the station itself, this job would typically fall to Lieutenant Corwin (in the first season, it alternated between him and an un-named BridgeBunny). If Sheridan or Sinclair was in Command and Control, this job would instead go to [[TheLancer Commander Ivanova.]] When traveling out and about aboard one ship or another, this job would fall to whichever character was serving as TheLancer for that mission (Lennier or Marcus, usually).
100* ''Series/BandOfBrothers'': T-4 George Luz, Easy Company's radioman who also doubles as the resident [[PluckyComicRelief jokester]] / PopCulturedBadass.
101* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|1978}}'' originally had Commander Adama's daughter Athena in this role in the original series. In [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 the reboot]], the job was performed by Corporal (later Lieutenant) Dualla, as well as her replacement, Hoshi.
102* ''Series/GenerationKill'': Cpl. Ray Person, the best RTO in Bravo Company. That said, since he was also Bravo 2-1's driver, Sgt Colbert ended up filling this role for the vehicles' occupants most of the time, communicating with Lt. Fick and relaying new information to the men riding with him.
103* ''Series/HogansHeroes'': Sgt. James Kinchloe is the primary radio operator for Col. Hogan's crew, replaced for the final season by Sgt. Richard Baker.
104* ''Series/{{Jeremiah}}'': One episode features Thunder Mountain's radioman, Jacob. He uses his position to contact his sister, who lives elsewhere, but inadvertently feeds information about their operations to a WastelandWarlord who has his sister prisoner.
105* In ''Series/{{MASH}}'', Radar was usually called up on to operate the communications equipment.
106* Robert RO Dixon in ''Series/SeaPatrol'' is a very snarky Communications officer. He does go on boarding parties and is the best person with software.
107* Lieutenant JG Tim O'Neill from ''Series/SeaQuestDSV''. Like Uhura and Sato from ''Star Trek'', he's also an {{Omniglot}} who is fluent in at least a dozen languages.
108* ''Franchise/StarTrek''
109** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' brings us one of the most famous examples, Lieutenant Uhura. In the Franchise/StarTrekExpandedUniverse and the [[Film/StarTrek2009 2009 film]] she is also a [[CunningLinguist xenolinguistics expert]]. In the new series ''Series/StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds'' Cadet Uhura is a prodigy who is fluent in over three dozen different human and alien languages and has a talent for language, and is dubbed by Captain Pike as "The Voice of the Enterprise."
110** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': This is the original duty for Worf, perhaps owing to his [[RaisedByHumans bicultural background.]]
111** In the pilot of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Ensign Harry Kim gets a battlefield promotion to Operations Officer which also includes this trope.
112** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'': Hoshi Sato handles communications. Her linguistics expertise also come into play because the UniversalTranslator is still a work-in-progress. She's also responsible for SubspaceAnsible equipment, which allowed the Enterprise to communicate back to Earth.
113** There is a clear evolution of the comm officer role over the chronology -- in ''Enterprise'' it is a science officer position, with Sato being recruited because of her linguistics expertise in the sense of 'the scientific study of language' and her primary focus being in translation (and helping develop the nascent universal translator). By ''TOS''/2009 film series it is an operations officer position, with Uhura's primary focus (even if she is an expert in languages) being in the handling of transmissions to and from the ship and the equipment for doing so. By ''TNG'' it isn't even a formal bridge officer position -- neither Worf nor Harry Kim were actually called communications officers, they just handled the hailing frequencies open/being hailed bit as part of their general duties.
114** ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'': Lieutenant R.A. Bryce.
115[[/folder]]
116
117[[folder:Podcasts]]
118* Communications Officer Doug Eiffel of the USS ''Hephaestus'' from ''Podcast/Wolf359'', whose job is to listen to static in the hope of hearing alien transmissions. The series later introduces Officer Sam Lambert, the previous Comms Officer of the ''Hephaestus'', (CastingGag played by the same actor.)
119** It is revealed at the end of the first season that Doug's habit of also broadcasting his personal logs and assorted classical musical selections into the void [[spoiler: is how humanity makes FirstContact with a race of SufficientlyAdvancedAliens. Unfortunately, this is also how these aliens [[BuffySpeak first learn English]], something that even the aliens are annoyed by.]]
120[[/folder]]
121
122[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
123* In ''Tabletopgame/BattleTech'', a number of [[HumongousMecha battlemechs]] have second seat for a communications officer, who takes control of the battlemech's radio and other communication equipment, and can have other tasks such as monitoring the EnemyDetectingRadar. CP-10-Z ''Cyclops'' assault mech was purpose-built for Star League field officers and possesses an advanced tactical computer to coordinate an entire battalion. The [=AS7-D=] ''Atlas'' is often retrofitted for the same purpose. These mechs are often the first target in an engagement, both to [[StraightForTheCommander take out the commander]] and to take out the [[RankScalesWithAsskicking 90+ ton bipedal murder tank]].
124* Darian "DX" Xenos from ''TabletopGame/{{Crimestrikers}}''. His primary function on the team is to [[MissionControl monitor the field agents]] and give them whatever info they need.
125* Creator/GamesWorkshop games
126** In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', the Imperial Guard has "vox operators" with radio backpacks for battlefield-level communication. For the purposes of interstellar communication, the Imperium of Man actually uses specialized telepaths called Astropaths.
127** The background information for the 2018 version of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000KillTeam'' mentions that Comms specialist act as a relay between the Kill Team, and their allies and commanders. This is represented in the game by the 'Command Relay' Level 3 Comms skill that can refund Command Points.
128* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'':
129** Communications officer is one of the crew specialties noted in ''GURPS TabletopGame/{{Traveller}} Starships''.
130** ''GURPS Steampunk 2'' notes that radio is a steam age invention, but from very late in the day, so it's unlikely to appear in {{Steampunk}} games. If it (or something similar but more advanced) appears in RaygunGothic games, though, where it's more likely to be appropriate, it's likely to be vehicle-mounted (probably in a "telegraphy cabin") and require skilled operation.
131* One of the standard Mandatory Bonus Duties in ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}''. In practice, it mostly plays into the [[WitchHunt Commie Hunt]] dynamic.
132[[/folder]]
133
134[[folder:Toys]]
135* ''Franchise/GIJoe'' has had two communications officers. The first one, Breaker, was one of the first 3 3/4" ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'' figures produced, and came with a helmet-mounted radio. The second, Dial-Tone, had a communications backpack and was introduced a few years later. Versions of both characters have been mainstays of the franchise; a {{Race Lift}}ed Breaker was in ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra'', while a {{Gender Flip}}ped Dial-Tone[[note]]slightly renamed as Dialtone[[/note]] appeared in ''ComicBook/GIJoeIDW'' comic books and ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeResolute''.
136* In every incarnation of ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', some version of Soundwave is the Decepticons' Communications Officer. And in many continuities, Blaster serves the same role for the Autobots. There are also some occasional secondary characters who also fill the role, such as Hubcap in ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' and Kup in ''ComicBook/TransformersWingsOfHonor''.
137[[/folder]]
138
139[[folder:Video Games]]
140* ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngel'': Almo Blueberry fills this role aboard the Elsior across the entire trilogy, while her friend Coco handles the ship's radar.
141* ''VideoGame/EmpireEarth'': Some missions give you a Radio Man, who can summon squads of airdropped infantry up to three times.
142* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, this role is typically filled by [[AcePilot Joker]], [[BridgeBunnies Yeoman Chambers, or Specialist Traynor.]] Unusually, both take steps to avert the "glorified secretary" aspects of this trope; Chambers is a psychologist (important when you [[DysfunctionJunction have a crew like Shepard's]]), whereas Traynor, [[ClosestThingWeGot before being drafted as Shepard's adjutant]], was actually in charge of a complete refit of ''Normandy'''s comms that allows it to coordinate an entire, galaxy-wide war effort involving thousands of ships on multiple fronts.
143* In ''VideoGame/SpaceQuestVTheNextMutation'', Flo performs this function. Given that the game is a clear parody of ''Franchise/StarTrek'', this is ''all'' she does. Since the SCS ''Eureka'' only has a crew of four (with the position of the Science Officer left open), the rest of the bridge duties are done by Droole who appears to be a tactical/pilot/navigation/garbage officer.
144* The ''VideoGame/{{Vietcong}}'' series has the radioman. In the first game, you have to use his radio whenever the radio icon shows up. In tunnel-based missions, you're equipped with your own radio. In the second game, he uses the radio himself.
145* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' ''Armageddon'', you have one of these, and her story arc follows her loss of faith when the player character is seemingly killed following a major defeat in the Second War for Armageddon. [[spoiler: And her subsequent corruption by Chaos.]]
146* In ''VideoGame/WingCommander III'', "[[EverybodyCallsHimBarkeep Radio]]" Rollins is both this in the literal sense, being the TCS ''Victory'''s communication's officer, as well as in the informal sense, considering himself as the one person on the ship who will tell you exactly what's ''really'' going on. You have the option upon first meeting him to lay down the law and get him to stop hurting ship's morale with his rumors about [[TheFederation Confed]] being on the ropes in their war with the [[CatFolk Kilrathi]] (which, while largely true, are disastrous for morale to just come out and state them openly when there is still a fighting chance for them to recover).
147* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfTanks'', each tank has a radio operator who allows the player to "see" tanks spotted by teammates within radio range. Tanks with smaller crews may double up on crew roles, often with the tank commander operating the radio. Certain tanks place radio operators in relatively exposed positions, making them the first casualty when the tank comes under fire.
148[[/folder]]
149
150[[folder:Webcomics]]
151* In the early arcs of ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' a "communications slug" called Sergeant Sh'vuu filled this role for Tagon's Toughs. However, after they got a ship with an A.I. his role became less important, so he started piloting a tank part-time, until he was killed.
152* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': Tuuri is frequently seen taking care of radio communications with MissionControl. As the mechanic, she's also the one maintaining it.
153[[/folder]]
154
155[[folder:Web Original]]
156* An important position on the airships of ''Literature/SkiesUnbroken'', since comm officers handle the (equivalent of) sonar along with the communications proper, and this is essential in a WorldInTheSky. Nem, the WaifProphet KindHeartedCatLover of Kor's crew is also a [[TheSmartGirl cryptologist]].
157* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': God's Messenger, the Dragonslayers' comm officer, known mostly for the number of times where he deliberately instigated a TrialByFriendlyFire on his unit.
158[[/folder]]
159
160[[folder:Web Videos]]
161* In ''Franchise/{{Noob}}'', Ystos is in the unique position of being the only member of Justice guild that the Noob guild can contact without risking a NotNowKiddo response. In return, he has easy contact with the Noob guild should Justice find itself unable to spare its own members for a relatively simple task. This takes an important role in Season 3 finale and its novel equivalent as he ends up monitoring the Noob guild through a task that Justice had to abandon to take care of more urgent matters.
162[[/folder]]
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164[[folder:Western Animation]]
165* Airwave from ''[[WesternAnimation/COPS1988 C.O.P.S.]]'', who is also the team's GadgeteerGenius.
166* ''WesternAnimation/ExoSquad'' features team member Alec [=DeLeon=], with his specialized Communications E-Frame.
167* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'': The bridge of the [[TheMothership Massive]] is crewed by officers who appear to be a mix of navigators/pilots and communications operators, who are identifiable by the high-collared uniforms they wear which obscure the lower halves of their faces. The [[EnsembleDarkHorse most prominent one]] is the one who appears in [[WesternAnimation/InvaderZimEnterTheFlorpus the movie]], proving himself to be the OnlySaneMan by warning the Tallest about the danger of the [[NegativeSpaceWedgie Florpus Hole]] only for them to keep ignoring him.
168* In ''WesternAnimation/Sealab2020'' and its GagDub ''WesternAnimation/Sealab2021'', the com officer for the title installation was Lieutenant Sparks (apparently his real last name).
169* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries'' introduces Lt. M'Ress, a CatFolk alien who serves as comm officer when Uhura is off duty or otherwise unavailable.
170* ''Franchise/TransformersGenerationOne'': Blaster and Soundwave's official jobs. In [[BlackmailIsSuchAnUglyWord Soundwave]]'s case, it's a painfully blatant euphemism, especially given his [[TheSpymaster everyday]] [[SinisterSurveillance duties]] and his unofficial third-in-command status.
171[[/folder]]

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