Samuel Gardner

Sam Gardner was a human male who was a member of the United Earth Starfleet in the mid 22nd century.

As a Commander, Gardner, like fellow Starfleet officers Jonathan Archer and A.G. Robinson was a test pilot in the NX test program in 2143. (ENT episode First Flight).

By 2151, Gardner held the rank of Captain, and as such was the favored candidate of the Vulcan High Command to command the Enterprise (NX-01). Gardner was passed over for command of the Enterprise by Admiral Forrest, who named Archer as commanding officer of the Enterprise. (ENT episode Shadows of P'Jem)

Gardner was promoted to Admiral by 2154, and when Maxwell Forrest died after the bombing of the United Earth embassy on Vulcan he became Archer's superior officer. (ENT episodes Awakening and Kir'Shara)

When Archer learned that the Romulans were planning to launch a genocidal attack against Coridan, Gardner ordered Enterprise to return to Earth. Angry with Archer for attempting to circumvent his orders, Gardner threatened to have Archer cashiered from the fleet, however he took no action when Archer went to Coridan. (ENT novel The Good That Men Do)