Bradward "Brad" Boimler () is a fictional character from the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Lower Decks. He is known for being ambitious while diligently following the rules of the service, and pleading excessively for his best friend, Ensign Beckett Mariner, an openly insubordinate ensign who regularly skirts the consequences, to do the same—although in the far future, Boimler is remembered for the Boimler Effect, a ship-wide mandate aboard the USS Cerritos encouraging breaking the rules, a distinction Boimler would not approve of. However, as the series progresses, Boimler eventually distinguishes himself as a courageous and resourceful officer of considerable command potential.
Boimler is voiced by Jack Quaid, who also reprises the role in a live-action crossover in "Those Old Scientists", an episode of the 2023 second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
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Characterization
Boimler has been described as the kind of person who does "everything by the book" and "a total stickler." About the character, Quaid noted that Boimler would "nail the written portion of the driving test with flying colors but once it actually got to him being in the car, it would be a complete and total disaster." Quaid additionally called Boimler the direct opposite of friend Beckett Mariner. According to Variety, "while great at sci-fi stuff, he's completely bound to the rules. He doesn't know how to follow his gut, and if he wants to be a captain some day he's going to have to learn how to improvise." Quaid also originally auditioned for the role of Sam Rutherford, but was cast as Boimler. Brad Boimler has also been likened to Quaid's character on the Amazon Prime Video original series The Boys, Hughie.
Fictional biography
Lower Decks
In the beginning of season one, Boimler is tasked with keeping his friend and co-worker Beckett Mariner in check by the USS Cerritos captain Carol Freeman, who, unbeknownst to him, is Mariner's mother. He sees his friend smuggling supplies to a pair of poor farmers down on a planet the Cerritos is making second contact with, and so he must decide to either follow the rules and report Mariner's behavior or break the rules like Mariner and do what's right. In the end, Boimler decides not to help Mariner but also not to report her.
For most of the rest of the season, Boimler tries to do both and impress the bridge crew while he's at it. However, though he and Mariner remain friends, he slowly starts to grow resentful of her constant rule breaking and that it always gets the job done anyway. In episode two, "Envoys", Boimler even considers quitting Starfleet when Mariner navigates a foreign planet much better than him, but Mariner hires an alien impostor and fakes a threat for Boimler to overcome, restoring some of his confidence. Over the rest of the season, the two develop an uneasy friendship, though Boimler remains determined to advance in Starfleet and tries to maintain a spotless record, despite getting embroiled in Mariner's antics.
In the season finale, "No Small Parts", Boimler tells Mariner he has learned she is Freeman's daughter, unwittingly broadcasting this to the crew and making the secret public. This upsets Mariner's relationship with the rest of the crew and with Boimler, but following a crisis that almost destroys the ship, Boimler embraces life in the lower decks with Mariner, declaring her his best friend. Shortly after, he seizes an opportunity for promotion that Mariner rejected and is reassigned to the USS Titan, serving on the bridge under the command of William Riker (from Star Trek: The Next Generation), leaving Mariner furious and ignoring her calls.
In season two, Boimler is still an officer aboard the USS Titan under Captain Riker, although he finds the crew's dangerous missions trying. After an adventure with his crew mates on the Titan that allows him to truly realize what being in Starfleet is all about, Boimler is accidentally cloned in a transporter accident, and Riker sends the original back to the Cerritos, with the clone Boimler opting to stay and work on the Titan, taking the new forename William. Boimler is welcomed back with open arms, though Mariner remains a little resistant. As a part of his return to the Cerritos, Boimler is demoted back to ensign.
Strange New Worlds
Quaid, along with Tawny Newsome as Beckett Mariner, makes a live-action appearance as Brad Boimler in the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, in which he is accidentally sent back in time and meets Christopher Pike and Spock. These events take place during season 3 of Lower Decks.
Reception
Brad Boimler has been a generally well-received character. Author Jodi L. Milner reviewed the series, and in the article she noted that the character is "desperate to get into command to the point that he will literally do anything to gain attention." Alan Sepinwall, writing for Rolling Stone, called Boimler "an easily flustered try-hard who doesn't understand why his rigorous rule following goes ignored by Captain Carol Freeman."