It doesn't seem to matter where on the list they are or what skill I select for (I've been running through them all seeing if I can find any other instances). The fleet HQ command officers, I've seen it happen with them on top of the list, on the bottom, or inbetween.
With the errant geology officer, on all the select-by lists on which he shows up, he shows up somewhere in the middle. [EDIT: I've since found it doesn't matter which officer he comes after -- the error follows him (Oleg). ]
UPDATE: Alright, I think I've got the pattern figured out. With the default Fleet Headquarters commander, the error occurs no matter how I select him. With the second Civil Fleet Headquarters commander and that one geology team member, it occurs when either selecting the officer with the mouse *or* using the keyboard to move down from the preceding officer in the select-by list. If, on the other hand, I have selected the officer that *follows* the errant officer on the list, and then use the up arrow key to select the errant one, no error is produced (except, as said, with the main Fleet HQ commander).