Lieutenant Benjamin Chiles

Character Information

Gender		Male
Species		Human
Age		32
Date of Birth		July 7
Place of Birth		Richmond, VA

Physical Appearance

Height		1.81m
Weight		77kgs
Hair Color		Dark Brown
Eye Color		Blue
Physical Description		Good height, well exercised, confident bearing- Ben Chiles looks the part of an active and advancing career officer. He wears his dark hair neatly, in a swept and not-really-wet style. His eyes are bright and enthusiastic, the conspiratorial glint is inherited. He goes about in Command gold, the jackets suit him, but prefers shirts with sleeves he can roll up when released from duty. His body is quietly strong, grip tight, and his face is clear with its features pleasingly set out. He's been handsome and assured a while, matured, and leans into the impression of easygoing professionalism. His accent is mostly neutral- American with a smooth and southern character, evoking family.

Family

Spouse		Divorced
Father		Robert Chiles
Mother		Heather Chiles (nee Blair)
Sister(s)		Susanna Martin

Other Relationships

Significant Other(s)/Romance		Isobel (the ex-wife) still gets along really well with Ben. The chemistry collapsed once he was out in the Fleet but they still match-up otherwise. He doesn't like her new guy- a Vulcan- but she didn't like his previous partner (a Carioca) so they're even.
Friends		School friends are scattered around the Federation, none in Starfleet. From the Academy there's a good group to keep in touch with. They're all far enough along their pathways that they enjoy informative shoptalk, and have other interests to humble brag about.
Enemies/Rivals		Likes to think there's still a rivalry with his Academy nemesis Sulkral but the Andorian is big on Yorktown, so career-wise has won that from Ben. Their families ski together when there's the chance.

Personality & Traits

General Overview		Ben Chiles has shaken off most of the bravado that came from being young, untroubled, and destined to fly starships. He has found his authenticity- that sort of comfort with yourself and your peculiarities as much as your glories. He likes to look around, not raise his voice, mean it when he plays, and reflect the good in his lived experience. Personal honor means something to Ben, and propriety constrains his instincts when there is room for conflict... leaving him underdone, at a loss. He doesn't like being shown up purposely either- that's a failing in the other person. Quick and short in how he then deals with the people and things around him. When he might know better there is a compulsion to act first, a little, in the way that means a problem has to get worse before it can be made better. He prefers collaboration- noting and engaging the strengths of those around him- without being ashamed of giving or taking orders. Having a goal as something ahead to reach or a target to hit is also the way Ben operates. His favorite approach is looking like he does nothing, rather than actually not doing nothing.
Strengths, Weaknesses, and Quirks		STRENGTHS: Ben is competent, seeking to improve, and aware of the effort that goes into the result. He's carved out his space and he'll mind it or prove it as asked. His physicality is worked on. He's less risky these days too, when he's bold there's something backing it at least. WEAKNESSES: Prefers action to suspense, but can't always wear the consequences. When he sees things as they ought to be seen has to remind himself to stop and go back and get the angles others have... and humbly revise to deliver the actual picture. His judgments carry and that can cut off vital avenues of assistance and perspective- all for a little bit of pride conceded OR being the bigger man.
Ambitions		Wearing gold, the right thing to say is Command. But there are prizes other than the big chair- getting the wheel on the latest or greatest new ship? Traversing the hard, beating the fast? A bit of glory is just as much in Ben's eyes as the ultimate. That's the professional side, the personal is more for finding rather than telling.
Hobbies, Interests, Likes, and Dislikes		Swimming, skiing, rowing, playing tennis and likes a pickup game of football too (American, but yeah sure why not the other kinds like Andorian and Australian and Soccer or whatever- it's all fun). When he reads for himself he'll take a genre or an author and focus on them for a couple of months, he prefers more than one book on the go, with one an exception from the theme- there for pure comfort- and other stuff free to be the challenge, or what extends his horizons. He sketches okay, cannot sing anything other than comedy, and should not be given a musical instrument. But he likes to dance and can do it well.

Personal History		Benjamin Chiles comes from Richmond, Virginia, and his family history doesn't much leave the vicinity looking back across the centuries. They were planters, and they still have land and homes that connect with that. Ben is aware of the history and the privileges unsaid, along with the costs and who was paying. He prefers the newer history. Mostly business or the arts, but some government and military to point at as 'service' on the family tree. Home was split between houses in the West End, and what had been plantation towards the coast. Good country with a shiver in the shade that ought to keep you honest. The kind of place where you learn to ride, sail, get dirt on you, host, and then leave behind after summer. School was in New York and classes were small with lots put in to the few. Be comfortable downtown with the sophisticates, uptown with the optimates, and across the bridge with the rest of the galaxy. That's what they had to be. School was very serious preparation for hallowed institutions- mostly East. There wasn't time for fun during terms and that's when Ben was broken down and built back up with the right stuff. Given the chance it was the science museums that grabbed him, and the sky traffic. From early he was going to win the US Open, but then from slightly less early he was going to follow along the path made by daredevils and the most exceptional- the Armstrongs and Archers- and fly. Higher and farther. School led to the Academy, and into the navigation and the piloting program. The standard was high, and by it Ben was good not top. That drove him to improve, and though he still didn't qualify among the feted he got to run with them, and learn and develop hunger and ambition that could sustain him. Out of his pipeline he would take shuttles, while building his competencies, loading on more, until he was there on the bridge and driving. Ben would score a seat on a cruiser, he would take a deep-space assignment. An older ship- half saucer- configured like the USS Newton. He missed what happened at Vulcan, was sobered by it more than he thought possible, but in the aftermath went forward. Helmsman on Constitutions, honing his trade. Patrol work early on opened up a tactical understanding that had previously been theoretical and learned, rather than exercised. And a deep space assignment was the challenge requested- no longer tethered and finally responsible and exploring the unknown. Ben did as hoped, he did well in his chair, the toll was personal- the romance he'd found in New York and dragged to the West Coast fell apart. This added another dimension to him, one that sought to make space for and appreciate a life beyond life as he was living it. The something more was fun that didn't come from work, meaning that didn't come from the job, and awe that couldn't be found out with Starfleet. Ben eased up on the hotshot vibes and the captain-in-waiting attitudes, and he's still enjoying himself that way.
Education Record		Collegiate School, New York, NY (a "Survivor") Starfleet Academy, San Francisco, CA (Red Squad)
Service Record		Shuttle Pilot, Relief Helm - USS Faraday Helmsman - USS Jupiter Helmsman, Assistant Chief - USS Paris Chief Helmsman - USS Legacy