Bridge Officers are completely customizable members of your crew that grant your ship and your captain with unique and powerful abilities. They also form the backbone of your away team when you're on the ground. As you level up, you earn "Bridge Officer points" that you can use to upgrade your bridge officers. When you have spent enough bridge officer points you have the ability to promote your bridge officers. The higher the officer's rank, the more of their abillities you unlock and the more of their abilities you will have access to in space, and on the ground.