History Main / CommunicationsOfficer

* ''Film/{{Valkyrie}}'' 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 Berlin under the control of Colonel von Stauffenberg, AllAccordingToPlan.

* Communications Officer Doug Eiffel from ''Podcast/Wolf359'', whose job is to listen to static in the hope of hearing alien transmissions.

* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' has a few examples:
** ''Literature/JediQuest'' character [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/JediApprentice Darra Thel-Tanis]] is an expert at jamming and intercepting signals.
** 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.

* ''Literature/JediQuest'' character [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/JediApprentice Darra Thel-Tanis]] is an expert at jamming and intercepting signals.

* 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.

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* In ''Anime/ZettaiMutekiRaijinOh'', the giant robot in question is so complex to operate that it needs ''two'' communications officers.

* ''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.

* ''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.
* 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.
* In ''Film/MemphisBelle'', Danny serves as the radioman for the titular 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.

* 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.

* 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.
* ''Literature/JediQuest'' character [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/JediApprentice Darra Thel-Tanis]] is an expert at jamming and intercepting signals.

* In ''Series/{{MASH}}'', Radar was usually called up on to operate the communications equipment

* 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.
* 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.

* 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 [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking 90+ ton bipedal murder tank]].
* 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.

* Airwave from ''WesternAnimation/COPSAnimatedSeries'', who is also the team's GadgeteerGenius.

* 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).

* ''VideoGame/EmpireEarth'': Some missions give you a Radio Man, who can summon squads of airdropped infantry up to three times.

* 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.

* ''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.

** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': This was the original duty for Worf, perhaps owing to his [[HalfHumanHybrid bicultural background.]]
** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Harry Kim got a battlefield promotion to chief communications officer, despite only being ([[StatusQuoIsGod perpetually]]) an ensign.
** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'': Hoshi Sato handled communications. Her linguistics expertise also came into play because the UniversalTranslator was still a work-in-progress. She was also responsible for SubspaceAnsible equipment, which allowed the Enterprise to communicate back to Earth.

* ''Literature/JediQuest'' character Darra Thel-Tanis [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/JediApprentice 1]] is an expert at jamming and intercepting signals.

* Airwave from ''[[WesternAnimation/COPSAnimatedSeries C.O.P.S.]]'', who is also the team's GadgeteerGenius.

* Airwave from ''WesternAnimation/{{COPS}}'', who is also the team's GadgeteerGenius.

* Mrs. Packard on ''Disney/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]]).

* One of the crew specialties in TabletopGame/{{GURPS}} TabletopGame/{{Traveller}} ''Starships''.

* In the [[Literature/XWingSeries Wraith Squadron novels]], this is Jesmin Ackbar's specialty. In addition to her experience with the actually 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.

* ''Film/CrimsomTide'' 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.

* 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.
* 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 AI his role became less important, so he started piloting a tank part-time, until he was killed.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2020}}'' and its GagDub ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}'', the com officer for the title installation was Lieutenant Sparks (apparently his real last name).

* 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 [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking 90+ ton bipedal murder tank]].

* 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 ScienceOfficer left open), the rest of the bridge duties are done by Droole who appears to be a tactical/pilot/navigation/garbage officer.

* In the ''Franchise/StarTrekExpandedUniverse'', 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.