Rydell, Daniel Wesley

STARFLEET OFFICER BIOGRAPHY - Daniel Rydell

Full Name: Daniel Wesley Rydell
Place of Birth: Hartford, Connecticut, Earth
Date of Birth: August 27, 2345
Birth Parent(s): Jacob (Father.) and Cassie (Mother.)
Sibling(s): David (Brother, Current Academy Instructor) Samuel (Deceased.)
Spouse: Rydell, Natalie Shaw
Current Posting: Starbase Atlantis, Sector 445
Previous Posting: Starbase 11, Deneb Sector
U.S.S. Michigan, NCC-78119
U.S.S. Repulse, NCC-2544
U.S.S. Grissom, NCC-59314
U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D
U.S.S. Bellerophon NCC-62048
Rank: Captain
Service Number: 01D878PL87A
Command Code: Rydell Alpha VI
Promotion Record:

2365 - Ensign: Assigned to U.S.S. Bellerophan, under Captain James Skylard as Relief Helm.
2367 - Lieutenant J.G.: Assigned to U.S.S Enterprise-D under Captain Jean-Luc Picard as Relief Helm Officer. Became beta shift helm in 2368.
2369 - Lieutenant; Assigned to U.S.S. Grissom for Helmsman for Alpha and Delta Shifts.
2371 - Lieutenant Commander; Assigned to U.S.S. Repulse for by Captain Patrick Cherrette. Helmsman for Alpha Shift, as well as relief for Beta, and Delta shifts. Later replaced former Executive Officer, Cheryll Montgomery.
2374 - Commander; Assigned to U.S.S. Michigan for Executive Officer Position.
2378 - Leave of Absence; Four month span.
2378 - Reactivated Commission
2379 - Commander; Executive Officer, U.S.S. Serenity B.
2379 - Commander; Executive Officer, Starbase 11, Deneb Sector.
2379 - Captain; Commanding Officer, Starbase 11, Deneb Sector.
2379 - Captain; Commanding Officer, USS Noble.
2379 - Captain; Commanding Officer, Starbase Atlantis, Sector 445.

Awards & Commendations:

2365 - Graduated Starfleet Academy, valedictorian from Command School.
2366 - Awarded the Wolf 359 Cluster plus the Starfleet Cross for acts during the Battle of Wolf 359
2368 - Awarded the Distinguished Pilot Cluster for extraordinary piloting in a hostile situation.
2373 - Awarded the Deep Space Nine Cluster for participating in action during the Battle of Deep Space Nine.
2374 - Awarded the Citation of Valor Cluster for command of a stealth reconnaissance team into Dominion territory.
2375 - Awarded the Chin'toka Cluster for participating in action during the Battle of Chin'toka.
2375 - Awarded the Cardassia Cluster for participating in action during the Battle of Cardassia.
2375 - Awarded the Dominion Cluster for participating in action during the Dominion War.
2375 - Awarded the Ten Year Cluster, for ten years of service to Starfleet.
2379 - Awarded the Captain's Cluster, for command of Starbase 11.

Daniel Rydell was born into a life of simplicity. Taught that the family way was the right way, he looked towards his life being manager of a small bed and breakfast. At age 16, he took a chance, and found work in San Francisco until a Starfleet representative convinced him to apply.

Originally, Daniel looked towards Security. The tactics, both team and one-man operations, appealed to him, and he applied for Security. However, after an incident involving a missing weapon from the cadet range, he was suspected of stealing said weapon. An investigation showed it to be another cadet, but this started Daniel on the track to Command school.

During Command School, Daniel got himself a name by being one of the few ships not destroyed in the holotraining programs, including one of the highest passing grades on the Kobayashi Maru, and the Iceland Command Scenario*. His weekends were spent running various command scenarios from the past, and understanding why the officers of those scenarios did what they did, whether they won or lost.

His main passion of school, was piloting. Watching countless hours of video of famous pilots of the past, tactics they used in battle, and what worked for them, and why. He was on Zenan Squadron, and they passed every course with top honors, with him leading the pack. He received honors for flying inside and outside the simulator, and high scores inside the Command Simulator.

Daniel graduated early in 2365, gaining himself a posting aboard the U.S.S. Bellerophon, and with it, a ticket into Wolf 359. During the original flanking of the Borg Cube, U.S.S. Melbourne, U.S.S Yamaguchi, U.S.S. Bellerophon and U.S.S. Saratoga were the primary attack formation, and all were disabled in the encounter. While most were destroyed instantly, the Bellerophon was critically damaged. Daniel was manning helm as the battle wore on, and was one of the few people left on the bridge alive. He managed to help the Chief of Security and Executive Officer off the bridge, and managed to get them to an undamaged shuttle. During the trek, however, he was burned in a fire that erupted as he guided the two injured officers through the collapsing ship. However, he was successfully able to avoid the Cube and make clear of the melee.

From that time, the remaining crew of the Bellerophan were scattered amongst the fleet, and Daniel was assigned to the U.S.S Enterprise, where he manned the helm station when needed as Relief Helm. During a rather sticky combat situation, Daniel was called in as the previous helm officer had been knocked unconscious. Because of his the expertise he showed while flying, he was given the Distinguished Pilot Cluster, by Captain Picard. After the incident, he became beta shift Helm officer, until he was reassigned in 2369 to the U.S.S Grissom. While little noteworthy happened aboard the ship, he was commended many times for quick thinking in tough situations. He successfully worked both Alpha and Delta shifts while on board.

Daniel transferred to the U.S.S. Repulse in 2371 as Alpha shift Helm officer, as well as relief for Beta and Delta shifts. During the time, he continued to show quick thinking, and logic in the test of unusual situations. Because of his impressive flying, once again, he was given multiple commendations. Given his exemplary record to this time, and his high scores in Command in the Academy, when the Executive officer Cheryll Montgomery was killed in an away mission, Daniel was assigned as the Executive Officer. Soon after, the costs of war became apparent, and in 2374, he was transferred to the U.S.S. Michigan as the new Executive Officer, under Captain John Engler.

The Defiant-class ship found itself to be in every major battlefront in the Dominion War. This included the Battle for Deep Space Nine, the Battle for Cardassia, and most notably, the Battle of Chin'toka, where Dan had to assume Helm, and command of the ship after Captain Engler was critically injured. In the time between battles, he gave pointers to the lower ranks on flying, and was constantly available for advice. One such person who became a good friend, was the Assistant Chief Engineer, Brelck. Daniel continued to lead the ship in his role as XO, and was a booster of morale on many occasions, including the Battle for Cardassia, where the ship was kept in tip top shape by a crew who wanted nothing more than to take every minute they'd spent repairing the ship, and take it off the lives of the Dominion forces.

After the war was over, the Michigan was engaged in a few combat situations along the Romulan Neutral Zone, but because of the presitge the Michigan had earned itself, these encounters were few and far between. After three years of small duty, Daniel took a leave from his commission. He decided to spend his leave at home with his parents. He helped them take care of their bed and breakfast, until late in 2378. His parents and himself received word that his brother, Samuel William Rydell, had been killed in an attack on an outer Federation Outpost.

Daniel went through severe trauma, going as far as to admit himself into Starfleet Medical for depression. In this time, he found himself meeting a young counselor named Natalie Hurley. She worked closely with Dan through his depression, and soon they became friends. In the time he was in SFM, they became closer than friends, and soon became lovers. They were married in early 2379, and Dan soon after reactivated his commission with his wife at his side. Soon, he was assigned to the USS Serenity-B, under command of Captain Ethan Alexander.

Durring its maiden mission, the Serenity was destroyed by Hur'Q forces and Daniel was assigned to Starbase 11 as Executive Officer. Soon after his posting there, Captain Ethan Alexander was reassigned due to the Hur'Q threat, and Daniel was promoted to Captain.

After the Hur'Q destroyed Starbase 11, Dan took command of USS Noble, and lead it into battle with the Hur'Q. Four months ater they were defeated, Dan was assigned to Starbase Atlantis as Commanding Officer.

END STARFLEET OFFICER BIOGRAPHY