Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Pays Tribute to Deep Space Nine

Tawny Newsome and Cirroc Lofton reveal the secrets behind the DS9 love letter in episode 5

Feb. 5, 2026 at 10:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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ScreenRant interviews Tawny Newsome and Cirroc Lofton about how Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Deep Space Nine tribute episode came together. Newsome and Lofton discuss Lofton’s return as Jake Sisko, the use of Avery Brooks’ voiceover, and the creation of the new Dax character Illa.

Why it matters

The Deep Space Nine tribute in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5 is a meaningful homage to the legacy of Captain Sisko and the DS9 series, bringing back beloved characters and honoring the show’s impact on the Star Trek universe.

The details

Tawny Newsome, a writer and co-producer on Starfleet Academy, made it her “singular focus” to feature Deep Space Nine in a meaningful way. This included bringing back Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko and using a voiceover from Avery Brooks as Captain Sisko. Lofton provided the idea to use a recording from Brooks’ jazz album “Here” for the voiceover. Newsome and Lofton also worked closely with Brooks to get his blessing and involvement. The episode also introduced a new Dax character, Professor Illa Dax, who was designed by Newsome and co-creator Kirsten Beyer to be a fitting shepherd for Jake’s return.

  • Starfleet Academy episode 5 aired on February 6, 2026.

The players

Tawny Newsome

A writer and co-producer on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy who made it her goal to feature Deep Space Nine in a meaningful way in the show.

Cirroc Lofton

The actor who reprised his role as Jake Sisko from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the first original DS9 cast member to do so in live-action.

Avery Brooks

The actor who played Captain Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, whose voiceover was featured at the end of Starfleet Academy episode 5.

Kerrice Brooks

The actress who plays SAM in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, to whom Avery Brooks passed the torch of the Emissary during filming.

Professor Illa Dax

A new Dax character created by Tawny Newsome and Kirsten Beyer, who is a hybrid of Cardassian and Trill species.

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What they’re saying

“It was my singular focus, when I entered the writers’ room, to get Deep Space Nine talked about in a meaningful way in this show.”

— Tawny Newsome, Writer and co-producer, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (ScreenRant)

“I just had the idea that it would be great to use this album that he recorded. He recorded this album called ‘Here,’ and it’s a jazz album, beautiful. I listened to it on a regular basis, and I thought, ‘Can we find a way to get this in the episode?’”

— Cirroc Lofton, Actor, reprising role of Jake Sisko (ScreenRant)

“What I thought was special about this episode was SAM’s character needed somebody to help give her support and give her confidence, and that’s what Sisko did for Jake. And I feel like Jake now is finally getting a chance to pay that forward to SAM’s character and say, ‘Let me be somebody in your life who can fill you up with confidence and help your self-esteem, and let you know that you are everything that you want to be. And anything is possible for you.’”

— Cirroc Lofton, Actor, reprising role of Jake Sisko (ScreenRant)

What’s next

The producers have not revealed any definite plans for future appearances of the Deep Space Nine characters in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, but the successful tribute in episode 5 may lead to more opportunities to honor the legacy of the series.

The takeaway

The Deep Space Nine tribute in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5 was a heartfelt love letter to the iconic series, seamlessly blending the past and present of the Star Trek universe and passing the torch to a new generation of characters and storytelling.