PERSONNEL FILE: HISTORICAL

NAME: Cochrane, Zefram
RANK: Scientist
BORN: 2030
PLACE OF BIRTH: North America, Earth
ORIGIN: Human
ASSIGNMENT: not on file
LAST SHIP: "Cochrane's Planet", Alpha Centauri
ACADEMY CLASS: not on file
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS: Cochrane became one of history's most renowned scientists when he revolutionized space travel in 2063 with the invention of the warp drive, making faster-than-light travel possible. Cochrane worked with an engineer named Lily Sloane (see file), constructing his warp ship, the Phoenix, in an abandoned missile complex in central Montana on the North American continent. Ironically, the booster stage of the Phoenix was originally built as a nuclear weapon of mass destruction. Despite interference from the Borg from the future, Cochrane conducted the first warp flight on April 4, 2063. That historic flight was detected by a passing Vulcan ship, and was therefore directly responsible for humanity's first contact with the interstellar community on the following day. Cochrane's motivation for building the Phoenix had been purely commercial, and he was uncomfortable with the fame and adulation that was consequently his, but he later realized that it was his individuality that made his extraordinarily achievement possible. A decade after the historic flight, Cochrane said "Don't try to be a great man, just be a man and let history make its own judgements." In later years, Cochrane's name became revered throughout the known galaxy: planets, great universities, and cities were named after him. Zefram Cochrane disappeared from Alpha Centauri in 2117 at the age of 87 and is presumed to have died in space. The area of Montana that was once the Phoenix's launch facility became a historical monument. A 20-meter marble statue was erected here, showing Cochrane reaching toward the future.
ACHIEVEMENTS, AWARDS: Inventor of Warp Drive, achieved First Contact with Vulcans.
FAMILY: not on file