James Komack

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

Admiral James Komack was a Starfleet flag officer, the head of Starfleet Command, Sector 9 in 2267.

Komack was responsible for overseeing the USS Enterprise's mission to Omicron Ceti III on stardate 3417. After he learned of the survival of the colonists, he ordered them evacuated to Starbase 27. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise")

On stardate 3372, Admiral Komack denied the request of the Enterprise to divert to Vulcan but to maintain course for Altair VI. Komack later allowed Enterprise to divert following a request made by Vulcan matriarch T'Pau. (TOS: "Amok Time")

[edit] Alternate reality

In 2258, of an alternate reality, Admiral Komack was among the high-ranking officers who presided over Cadet James T. Kirk's Starfleet Academy hearing for cheating during his Kobayashi Maru scenario. Later, after Kirk took command of the USS Enterprise and helped save Earth and Captain Christopher Pike from Nero, Komack was present at Kirk's promotion to captain of the Enterprise. (Star Trek)

[edit] Background

Admiral Komack, who was first mentioned as a dialog reference in "The Alternative Factor", was played by Byron Morrow in "Amok Time" and Ben Binswagner in 2009's film Star Trek.

According to the text commentary from "Amok Time", by Michael and Denise Okuda, Komack was named for James Komack, director of TOS: "A Piece of the Action". That homage was later picked up in the eleventh film, when the placard on Starfleet Academy read "James Komack".

Morrow later portrayed Admiral Westervliet in TOS: "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky". Although Westervliet's name was not spoken on screen, but rather appeared in the end credits, a noticeable change was made in Morrow's appearance to differentiate between the two characters.

Komack was one of the few admirals seen on the original series. In most other episodes where Kirk reports to a flag officer, it was usually a commodore.