Meredith Cutler was a Lieutenant Commander in Starfleet in 2289. She was Chief of Security aboard the USS Excelsior and a close friend of Captain Lawrence Styles. Captain Styles was going to promote her to Executive Officer of Excelsior; however, Starfleet assigned Commander Hikaru Sulu to that posting before Captain Styles could complete the promotion.

She was promoted to Executive Officer by Captain Hikaru Sulu following the death of Captain Styles. (Excelsior: Forged in Fire)