Adama, in the original series, is the commander of the great military vessel battlestar Galactica, commander of the refugee fleet, and military commander of the evacuees of the Twelve Colonies. He is also the spiritual leader of the surviving Colonists, leading the quest for Earth.
He has a daughter Lieutenant Athena and son Captain Apollo who feature in the series. His wife Ila, and his second son, Zac, are killed in the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies.
Adama is a native of the planet Caprica, which is where he graduated from military academy. Early in his career Adama was involved in a parapsychological research project at the Colonial Military Institute (War of the Gods, Part II). He flew with his executive officer Colonel Tigh in their younger days, and later served as an aide to Commander Kronus aboard Battlestar Rycon. As well as being a career military officer, Commander Adama is also a member of the Quorum of Twelve, the governing body of the Colonies. ...continued...