Robert DeSoto was a Human male who served in Starfleet in the 24th century. He commanded the Excelsior-class USS Hood for two decades from the early 2360s.
Biography[]
Starfleet Academy[]
Robert, the son of Starfleet Captain Mirabelle Brodeur and civilian physician Dr. Hiram DeSoto, attended Starfleet Academy, where he was a member of the Academy Go team, and team captain his junior and senior years. His team won two out of four Federation championships, an accomplishment he continued to take great pride in throughout his career. (VOY - The Brave and the Bold, Book Two novella: The Third Artifact)
Early career[]
After his graduation from Starfleet Academy, Ensign DeSoto served aboard the USS Antares along with Ensign Jean-Luc Picard. The two became friends and continued to serve together as lieutenants during the late-2320s. (TNG episode: "Tin Man"; Typhon Pact novel: Paths of Disharmony)
In 2355, DeSoto sent his condolences to Picard on the destruction of the USS Stargazer. (TNG novel: The Buried Age)
USS Hood[]
By 2361, DeSoto had reached the rank of captain, and was commanding officer of the USS Hood. (TNG episodes: "Encounter at Farpoint", "Tin Man")
During the time that William T. Riker served as his first officer on the Hood, Riker prevented DeSoto from beaming down to Altair III, feeling that the situation would be much too dangerous to allow DeSoto to beam down to the surface. Riker disobeyed a direct order in preventing his captain from beaming down to the surface. DeSoto entered a small note regarding the incident in to Riker's permanent service record, but did not take any further action. When considering Riker as first officer on the Enterprise Picard found the note and guessed that DeSoto was too embarrassed about the incident to say anything. However, Picard felt that Riker's willingness to put his captain's life, the ship, and the mission ahead of any negative consequences to his career would make him an excellent Number One and decided to take on Riker as first officer. (TNG - The Lost Era novel: The Buried Age, TNG episode: "The Pegasus" and TNG episode & novelization: Encounter at Farpoint)
By 2375, he was considered one of the most celebrated captains in Starfleet. (DS9 episode: "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River") During his career, he distinguished himself in early engagements with the Cardassians, as well as the Jem'Hadar during the Dominion War. He also established himself as a diplomat, helping to negotiate treaties with the Cardassians, Romulans, and Breen. (TNG - Typhon Pact novel: Paths of Disharmony)
In early 2378, DeSoto was one of several Starfleet officers present at the first official debriefing of Captain Kathryn Janeway after her ship, the USS Voyager returned from the Delta Quadrant. DeSoto was also on the short list of high-ranking officers that may have been involved in the sale of intelligence and technology to the Orion Syndicate. (VOY novel: Homecoming)
In 2380, DeSoto hosted a Trinni/ek delegation aboard the Hood on the way to Earth. On arrival, he accompanied Ambassador Colton Morrow and five members of the delegation, including Speaker Ytri/ol, to the Federation Council Chambers. When the Trinni/ek collapsed shortly after entering the Council Chambers, Desoto called a medical emergency and followed the medical team to the hospital on Starbase 1. (ST novel: Articles of the Federation)
Admiralty[]
In 2381, following the destruction of the Borg Collective and the mayhem that resulted, DeSoto was promoted to admiral and assigned to the position of Director of Postwar Rebuilding Efforts after Jean-Luc Picard turned down the posting. (TNG novel: Losing the Peace)
In 2382, DeSoto contacted Picard to inform him of the retirement of Admiral Eric Hasslein from his position at Starfleet Command and to allow Picard to know that Leonard James Akaar was considering him for the position. He also informed Picard that he was being considered for an Ambassadorship. (TNG - Typhon Pact novel: Paths of Disharmony)
Personal Life[]
As of 2371, DeSoto was married, and he and his wife made their home on the Rigel colonies. (VOY - The Brave and the Bold, Book Two novella: The Third Artifact)
DeSoto maintained an interest in the field of exobiology. (CCG set: All Good Things)
Starfleet service record[]
location | assignment | dates | rank or rate | assignment insignia | rank insignia |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
USS Antares | junior officer | 2327-2328 | ensign | ||
unestablished | unestablished | late 2320s | lieutenant | ||
USS Hood | commanding officer | 2361-2381 | captain | ||
Starfleet Command | Director of postwar rebuilding efforts | 2381- | rear admiral |
Appendices[]
Connections[]
USS Antares personnel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USS Antares (Kelvin timeline) | T'nag | USS Antares (NCC-501, Antares-class) | Ramart • Tom Nellis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USS Antares (NCC-1820, Constitution-class) | Robert DeSoto • Ivan Gruzinov • Nol Kastiigan • Jean-Luc Picard • Sannek | USS Antares (NCC-2514, Constellation-class) | Avul Vayishra |
Hood personnel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Federation, Starfleet | USS Hood (Constitution class) |
Ankee • J. Banks • G. Barton • K. Chin • L. Craig • K. Dodge • D'Uberville • Ellis • En-Lai • M. Harrari • S. Kane • J. Kyle • J. Martinez • Morax • S. M'Ress • Oxley • A. Paultic • H. Revere • M. Rousseau • Simmons • Stuart • Tavi • C. Vayentes • G. Vedra • Umba • P. Yudrin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USS Hood (Enterprise class) |
Lori Desmonal • Lustig | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USS Hood (Excelsior class) |
Abrams • Brian • Buonfiglio • Chandra • Consuela • T. Czierniewski • M. Dayrit • R. DeSoto • R. Green • E. Hayat • R. Holverson • B. Hsu • J. Kojima • G. La Forge • Ledbetter • Lolo • F. Orzon • C. Papadimitriou • W.T. Riker • E. Rose • Tuvok • D. Voyskunsky • L. Weiss | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USS Hood (Galaxy class) |
E. Sherwood • W. Crushera | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Terran Empire (mirror universe) | ISS Hood | Martinez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
a : alternate reality |
Conflicting information[]
- An issue of DC Comics suggested that DeSoto had been killed at the Battle of Wolf 359, though this data point was dismissed by subsequent stories.
External link[]
- Robert DeSoto article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.