Trawley was a human Starfleet officer in the 23rd century.
As an ensign in the 2350s, he served aboard the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. He was a member of the landing party Pike lead on Corinthia VII, where he witnessed Pike's single-handed defeat of a huge subterranean creature that threatened his crew.
By 2366, Trawley had been promoted to Commander, and was put in command of a class-J cargo ship used for cadet training. One week after taking command, during an inspection tour by then-Fleet Captain Pike, a baffle plate ruptured, and several cadets were killed. (TOS short story: "A Private Ancedote")