James Doohan as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in Star Trek: The Original Series.... James Doohan became famous as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, the chief engineer of the USS Enterprise on Star Trek. Although he was an actor rather than an engineer, his character helped make engineering look exciting to a generation of young viewers. That influence eventually earned Doohan an unusual academic honor. In February 1993, the Milwaukee School of Engineering awarded him an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree. Reports from the time said that when students were asked what had inspired them to pursue engineering, about half credited Scotty. Doohan later said he found it deeply rewarding to learn that his television role had influenced so many real careers. Scotty became known for solving seemingly impossible technical problems aboard the Enterprise, often finding a way to keep the ship running when everything appeared to be going wrong. Decades after the original series, Doohan's fictional engineer had left a very real mark on the engineering profession. #aechaeohistories