An operations center (also known as Ops) was the command and control facility of a space station or outpost.

On Cardassian stations such as Deep Space 9/Terok Nor, Ops was a circular area located at the top of the main structure, with overhead windows giving a view of the stars and ships docked at the upper docking pylons. It contained, among other things, the commander's office, a turbolift, a transporter, and a viewscreen. The design was such that all present were required look up to the commander's office and also isolated the commander to a degree; rather than a captain's chair, the station commander's "seat of power" was in what would otherwise be a ready room.

The centralized nature of Ops also meant that, unlike most starships, in which primary controls were accessible from main engineering if desired, the operations center was the only location with such access. This made it a prime target for hostile forces, particularly in the case of Terok Nor, as the risk of a Bajoran revolt was significant. In order to minimize such risks, Ops could be sealed off from the rest of the station if necessary.

Many functions that would have otherwise been performed in main engineering could be performed in the "pit", located directly below the viewscreen. Among other things, this allowed the commander to keep from showing signs of weakness, because crucial tasks could be performed out of sight during hails. Ops also had a replicator.