ORIGINS: Richard Howden

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LCDR Richard Howden- Chief Navigator, USS Constellation

• Player: Mosher, Mark
• Contact: Email
• Last Updated: SD 2260.340

I. Personal Data
================
Full Name:                         Richard Allen Howden
Surname:                           Howden
Given Name:                        Richard Allen
Nickname:                          N/A
Current Rank:                      Lieutenant Commander (O-4)
Current Billet:                    Navigator, USS Constellation, NCC-1017
Species:                           Human
Gender/Sex:                        Male
Age:                               37
DOB:                               April 20, 2223
POB:                               Denver, Colorado, Earth
Parents:                           Father: William J. Howden (65 y/o)
                                   Mother: Anna L. Gregory (61 y/o)
Siblings:                          Brother: Christopher T. Howden (35 y/o)
                                   Sister: Kristin J. Howden (27 y/o)
Spouse:                            Helena E. Ferguson (Deceased)
Children:                          Kevin M. Howden (18 y/o)

A. Physical Description
-----------------------
HT:                                6’ 4”
WT:                                210
EY:                                Grey
HR:                                Brown 
SK:                                Very Light Tan
Blood Type:                        A+
Religion:                          N/A
Citizenship:                       Earth
Languages:                         Terran Standard, Vulcan (fluent), Andorian 
                                     (conversational) 

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II. Educational Background
===========================
A. Academic Institutions Attended
---------------------------------
-- Star Fleet Academy
   (Masters, Applied Mathematics)
-
B. Service Schools Attended
---------------------------
-- Star Fleet Space Warfare Officers School

C. Qualifications (MOS/MOCs)
----------------------------
-- MOC: Navigation/Astrogation Officer
-- MOC: Damage Control Procedures


D. Star Fleet Academy Record
---------------------------- 
Honors: 
Academic Major:                  Applied Mathematics
Professional Major:              Astrogation, Starship Operation
Class Rank:                      51/298
Reprimands:                      N/A
Commendations:                   4
Athletics:                       N/A
Activities:                      N/A 

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III. Biographical Notes
=======================

A. Chronology (tabular form)
----------------------------

0-18:  Lived with parents on Earth; attended Terran public schools.

18-22: Entered College at the University of Denver, earned a Bachelors of 
       Science

22-26: Entered Starfleet Academy, Post-Graduate Training

26:    Cadet Cruise aboard USS LIBERTY, Received exemplary passing grade. 
       Commissioned as Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2)

26-37: Active Duty in Starfleet

B. Background Summary
---------------------

Richard A. Howden was born into a relatively well off upper-middle class 
family. He was born the first of three children and was the only one that 
showed genius level mental abilities. His photographic memory and ability to 
abstract was decades beyond his years, which held for him the promise of a 
great career in adulthood. His intelligence, however, was not looked upon as 
a boon by most of his classmates, and as a result, Richard engaged almost 
daily in school fights. As his siblings entered school, the fights changed 
in purpose from self-defense to the defense of his family, which bright 
Richard closer together with his younger brother and sister.

When he graduated school, his parents decided that their eldest son should 
be the first Howden to attend college in nearly 4 generations. This was a 
matter of pride for Richard. During his college years, the youthful jealousy 
of his peers faded into a deep respect for the stoic man that wondered the 
halls of the college. His reserved, confident nature earned him dozens of 
nicknames, though none had any staying power, and when he finally graduated, 
degree in hand, Richard found himself at a crossroads. He had never really 
given much thought to his future, nor did he consider what he wanted to do 
with the knowledge he had gathered. It was by sheer chance that Richard 
stumbled upon an old family album while he was helping his parents move into 
a smaller home the first summer after he’d left school. In it, he found 
hundreds of photos, some dating back all the way to the Civil War on Earth, 
and in it, he discovered his family’s martial tradition. Almost all of his 
ancestors were military men, though none of them had ever held a commission. 
This inspired the young Howden, giving him a goal. He would take up his 
family’s lost legacy, but he would do one better, he decided it was time for 
the Howden family to lead.

His entry into Starfleet Academy was somewhat different from the normal cadet. 
His possession of a Bachelors degree made his class load a lot smaller. His main 
focus was occupational in tone, rather than academic. His 4th year at the 
Academy was spent tutoring and assisting in the instruction of 1st year cadets 
rather than attending classes himself. This concession was reached after his 3rd 
year when he had completed the entire course for Navigation, including several 
advanced courses normally reserved for returning officers that have had years of 
Navigator experience. 

The choice to send him to the LIBERTY for his cadet cruise came at the behest of 
the ship’s Captain, who had met the cadet during a visit to the Academy. The two 
seemed to hit things off immediately, their similar attitudes and mannerisms 
making them fast friends. Despite that bond, Cadet Howden did not have an easy 
time of things, having to pull his fair share of the workload and responsibilities. 
His service was noticeable, he had, by the end of his short tour, been submitted 
for early commissioning twice, and submitted for several commendations for the 
work he had done. At the end of his tour, Cadet Howden’s service earned him an 
advanced commission to Lieutenant Junior Grade, and while the entire crew wanted 
to see the young man remain aboard, Starfleet had other ideas.

The USS GENTRY was the first vessel to be graced with Lt. JG Howden’s presence. 
His praiseworthy work ethic and his strangely charismatic personality did not 
diminish in his transfer. Several times in the 3 ½ years that Howden served, he 
was put before his Captain for meritorious promotion. For all of his great work, 
Lt. JG Howden was denied promotion on the grounds that he was still young and 
not as experienced as many of the officers who would have been his peers should 
he receive such a promotion. At the end of his tour, however, Lt. JG Howden did 
receive his promotion, an event that the entire Command Staff aboard the GENTRY 
made it a point to attend. It was during that ceremony that it was announced that 
Richard had garnered the interest of a vessel seeking a Chief Navigator, and though 
no one on the GENTRY was happy about his leaving, no one could deny that Richard 
was the right man to take a job like that.

The USS EDENTON welcomed the young Lieutenant with open arms, his reputation 
waiting for him when he arrived. Finally in a position to effect change, rather 
than implement someone else’s ideas, Richard set about the task of making the 
Navigation section what he believed it should be. In what was described by most of 
his officers and crewmen as a whirlwind, the Navigation section was totally 
reorganized. At first, the friction this move caused brought about a lot of enmity 
from his staff. Many outright rebelled against the drastic changes. Their rebellion 
was quelled, not by force or reprimand, but through demonstration on the part of Lt. 
Howden. He took the time to show people, through long shifts and sleepless nights, 
that the changes he made were not only in the best interests of the ship, but of 
his people as well. As time passed on, more and more members of his section who had 
been passed over time and again for promotions and overlooked for awards found 
themselves catapulted into the limelight. The Navigation section became known as 
the revolving door to success on the EDENTON, given the name because of the high 
turnover rate of people being promoted and transferred to bigger and better things 
thanks to their experience and service. 

Despite the success of his crew, Lt. Howden remained somewhat removed from the 
accolades. He purposely distanced himself from the accomplishments of his people 
to give them a chance to shine through. Several times, Richard purposely gave credit 
to others on his team for things they had only played small parts in, allowing them 
the chance to advance and transfer. The Captain finally caught on to his scheme, and 
confronted Lt. Howden. After 5 years of bolstering other people’s careers, Howden was 
made to take a bump up in his own. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and given 
to the USS REDOUBT, a newly refitted vessel, to continue his service.

His time on the REDOUBT was no less outstanding than on the EDENTON, though when the 
time came two years after his arrival to consider where his career would progress, 
the events surrounding Vulcan’s destruction occurred. The call went out to crew the 
newest ships with the finest officers they could find went out across the fleet, and 
Lt. Cmdr. Howden was chosen to transfer to the USS CONSTELLATION. 

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IV. Official Star Fleet Record
=============================

A. Promotion History:
=============================
2245.213: Entered 1st Year, Starfleet Academy
2246.213: Entered 2nd Year, Starfleet Academy
2247.213: Entered 3rd Year, Starfleet Academy
2248.214: Entered 4th Year, Starfleet Academy
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Allowed to Advance beyond Ensign due to his education and meritorious service during 
 his cadet cruise)
2249.115: Promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2)
2253.212: Promoted to Lieutenant (O-3)
2258.009: Promoted to Lieutenant Commander (O-4)


B. Service History
------------------
2245.213: Entered 1st Year, Starfleet Academy
2246.213: Entered 2nd Year, Starfleet Academy
2247.213: Entered 3rd Year, Starfleet Academy
2248.214: Entered 4th Year, Starfleet Academy
-----------------------------------------------------------
2249.115: Graduated from Starfleet Academy; assigned to cadet cruise aboard 
            USS Liberty NCC-0384.
2249.213: Finished Cadet Cruise; commissioned as Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2), 
            assigned as Navigation Officer, USS Gentry NCC-0399.
2253.212: Promoted to Lieutenant (O-3), reassigned to USS Edenton NCC-0411 as 
            Chief Navigator
2258.009: Promoted to Lieutenant Commander (O-4), reassigned to the USS-Redoubt 
            NCC-0854 as Chief Navigator
2260.339: Reassigned to USS Constellation NCC-1017 as Chief Navigator

C. Medals and Commendations
---------------------------- 

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V. Skills Profile
==================

His photographic memory and his attention to detail rival that of any computer. His 
mathematical comprehension and problem solving skills are of the highest caliber. 
Richard is also a capable marksman and incredibly agile. 

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VI. Recent Fitness Reports
==========================

Richard Howden is in top physical condition, despite his insistence that he 
participates in any extra-curricular activities in his off time. His overall 
evaluation is a supreme fitness for duty.

-- Dr. Jack Rubel
Staff Attending, Starfleet Academy


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VII. Psychological Profile
==========================

Mr. Howden is a rather puzzling individual. While he is reported by his superiors 
to be a pleasant and outgoing individual, my observations of him leave me wondering 
whether or not they are confusing him with some other officer. While his is polite, 
Richard seems utterly closed off, responding to my inquiries with short answers at 
best and brief nods more often than not. He does not engage in the sort of banter 
normal for patients when they are given such an open forum to discuss their feelings. 
I have yet to discover how he likes his area of work, let alone hear anything about 
his co-workers. When asked about his behavior, he tends to simply grunt, waving it 
away as my being overly analytical of things. However, and despite my personal 
reservations about the man, Mr. Howden is fit for duty, and I don’t foresee him ever 
returning to a councilor again.

-- Cmdr Alice Johns
Staff Psychologist, USS LIBERTY


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VIII. Current Recreational Interests
==================================

None on file.

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