Geordi LaForge

Geordi La Forge was a noted Starfleet officer and engineer who served in the 24th century. He was most famous for serving as chief engineer aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) and USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E).

Early Life
Geordi La Forge, the son of Edward M. and Silva La Forge, was born in the African Confederation, Earth on February 16, 2335. He was born completely blind. (TNG episodes: "Encounter at Farpoint" and "Conundrum").

In 2340, at the age of 5, La Forge was briefly caught in a fire, and unable to escape, due to his blindness. He was rescued by his father, and shortly after was given his first VISOR from Dr. Lenske. (TNG episode: "Hero Worship" and novels: The Romulan Stratagem and Gulliver's Fugitives). After receiving his VISOR, Geordi was taught to suppress the pain by a Vulcan Healer. (TNG novel: Debtors' Planet)

Around this time, Geordi visited Cambridge University on a family outing. (TNG novelization: "All Good Things...")

''Many novels contradict each other regarding Geordi's VISOR. One of them is'' Spartacus.

In 2343, Geordi was given his first pet, a Circassian cat named Alexi. (TNG episode: "Imaginary Friend" and novel: Q-Zone).

In his early years, Geordi travelled around a lot with his parents, as they were both Starfleet officers. In his formative years he saw many fascinating sights, including the remnants of the Achorii civilization. By the age of 12, in 2347, Geordi was living with his mother aboard a Starfleet science ship. (TNG novels: Requiem and Sins of Commission).

Also in his early years, LaForge had a mentor called Nassa Coleridge. (TNG novel: Doomsday World).

Starfleet Academy
In 2353, Geordi decided to follow in his parent's footsteps and entered Starfleet Academy. (TNG episode: "Conundrum").

Between February 16, 2353 and February 16, 2354, Geordi was taught an archaeology course by his former mentor, Nassa Coleridge(TNG novel Doomsday World).

In his final year at the Academy, Geordi spent five-months rewriting a dissertation for Dr. Zorka, after Zorka initially rejected it. Geordi struggled throught the class and eventually passed. (TNG novel: Balance of Power).


 * Note: I do not have access to the Young Adult novels about La Forge's adventures at the Academy. If anyone can help with the details, it would be greatly appreciated.

Starfleet Officer: Early Career
Ensign La Forge graduated from the Academy in 2357 and was assigned as conn officer aboard the USS Victory (NCC-9754), under the command of Captain Zimbata. (game: Star Trek: Starship Creator and TNG episode: "Elementary, Dear Data").

In 2363 (Stardate 40164.7), the Victory was conducting a survey of Tarchannen III, to determine the whereabouts of 49 missing Starfleet personnel assigned to the planet. An away team, commanded by Lieutenant Susanna Leijten, failed to locate the personnel, and the Victory left the planet. (TNG episode: "Identity Crisis").

Shortly after, Geordi transferred to the USS Hood (NCC-42296), under the command of Captain Robert DeSoto. During his year aboard the Hood, he became close friends with first officer William T. Riker. (TNG novelization: Encounter at Farpoint).

Aboard the Enterprise-D
In 2364, La Forge transferred to the Enterprise-D along with Commander Riker, to serve as conn officer under Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He spent his first year aboard the Enterprise as conn, before transferring to engineering and becoming the ship's new chief engineer with the rank of full Lieutenant. (TNG episode: "The Child").

In late-2365, the Enterprise responded to a distress call from the Pakled freighter, Mondor. La Forge beamed aboard to assist them with repairs, when he was taken hostage and held for ransom, until he upgraded their systems and provide them with phasers. La Forge managed to engineer his escape by bluffing the Pakleds, with help from the Enterprise. (TNG episode: "Samaritan Snare").

Aboard the Enterprise-E
Following the destruction of the Enterprise-D at Veridian III, La Forge was assigned as chief engineer of the Sovereign-class Enterprise-E. By 2373 La Forge had replaced his VISOR with full spectrum synthetic eyes.

When the Enterprise was transported back to the year 2063, La Forge was instrumental in helping to repair the Borg-inflicted damage to Earth's first warp ship, Phoenix, and in convincing Zefram Cochrane to complete his historic flight. (movies: Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact)

In 2379 he commanded the Piper team mission to infiltrate the nadion-pulse cannon firebase located on the summit of Mount Ranakar on Tezwa. (TNG novel: A Time to Kill)

Later that year, after Riker accepted command of the USS Titan, La Forge was offered the position of first officer of that ship. La Forge declined the offer. (TNG novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)

In 2380, Geordi was briefly away from the Enterprise and Reginald Barclay served as interim chief engineer. (Game: Star Trek: Elite Force II)


 * At some point between Generations and First Contact, La Forge had his VISOR replaced with artificial ocular implants. The story behind this change will be told in the upcoming ebook miniseries Slings and Arrows. 

Alternate Timeline
In an alternate timeline created by Q, Geordi La Forge last served with the crew of the Enterprise around 2370. Eventually, he left Starfleet, like Captain Picard before him. He married Leah, and the couple had three children: Bret, Alandra, and Sidney. Geordi retired to Rigel III, and became a novelist; one of his novels featured a protagonist named Patrick. He saw Picard in 2387; the next time the two met was in 2395, when Geordi visited Picard on Earth after hearing of his former captain's case of Irumodic syndrome. He traveled with Picard and several of his other former Enterprise crewmates to the Devron system, to locate and repair an anti-time anomaly. (TNG novelization: "All Good Things...'')