William Adama
Overview[edit]
Rank: Commander
Call sign: Husker
Age: 61
Marital Status: Divorced
Children: 2 - Lee Adama; Zak Adama (deceased)
Current position: Officer Commanding Colonial Fleet Battlestar Galactica, formerly part of the 75th Battlestar Group (Water)
(Played by: Edward James Olmos)
Biography[edit]
Background[edit]
William Adama was born on Caprica to Evelyn and Joseph Adama. His mother was an accountant and his father, an attorney specialising in civil liberties (Litmus). They devorced while he was in his teens.
At the outbreak of the 1st Cylon War, Adama was serving in the Colonial military as a pilot. He allegedly gained the call sign of "Husker" on account of his baritone "gravelled" voice. He proved to be a gifted Viper pilot, shooting down his first Cylon on his very first mission. He racked-up his 1,000th deck landing while serving aboard the Battlestar Atlantia (Act of Contrition), when he held the rank of Lieutenant.
Following the Cylon armistace, William Adama married his long-term sweetheart, Caroline. They had two sons together: Lee and Zak, before the pressures of Adama's career and the time he spent away from home of active service began to place a strain on their marriage. Nevertheless, this did not stop both Lee and Zak following their father into the service - both signing-up for training as Viper pilots.
Son's Death[edit]
During his training, Zak Adama became involved with his flight training officer, Lt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, to whom he became engaged shortly before taking his final qualifying flight (Act of Contrition). As a result of this, Thrace allowed her personal feelings interfere with her professional judgement, passing Zak Adama through flight school when she should have failed him (Mini-Series). Zak was later killed in an operational flight.
As a result of his son's death, Adama faced the failure of his marriage and estrangement from his eldest son, Lee. However, to counter this, he became acquainted with Kara Thrace, and such was the bond that formed between them, Thrace transferred from flight school to one of the Battlestar Galactica's squadrons, where she served with Adama for some two years before the Cylon's reappearance (Act of Contrition).
Surprise Cylon Attack[edit]
At the time of the Cylon's sudden attack on the 12 colonies, William Adama was serving-out his final weeks as commander of the Battlestar Galactica. After some 50 years of service, the massive warship was in the process of being decommissioned, and it would have been one of Adama's final duties to formally hand her over to the civilian authorities (in the form of Education Secretary Laura Roslin) who would operate the ship as a living museum commemorating the original Cylon War and an educational centre (Mini-Series).
As a part of the decommissioning ceremonies, someone decided it a fitting tribute to have Lee Adama, recently-promoted to the rank of Captain, lead an honour flyby of Vipers - an ironic statement at best, given the strained relationship between the two men. The situation is not made any easier when Lee Adama find he is to fly his father's battle-honoured old Mark II Viper....
Adama is a natural military leader, as demonstrated by his rise to rank of Commander in charge of a Colonial battlestar. He has the rare combination of qualities that make up a good leader: insight, the ability to naturally command respect, a common touch that enables him to relate to the enlisted personnel under his command as well as his officers, intuition, intelligence, a strong belief in his own abilities, and the ability to take the advice of others. These qualities are reflected in the fact the personnel of all ranks aboard the Galactica hold him in high regard, and know that his is approachable (Mini-Series).
As a combat veteran, Adama is more than capable of both strategic and tactical operations and making the decisions both require. When Picon Fleet headquarters is destroyed, he unhesitatingly take control of the Colonial's response to the Cylon incursion and starts defining a response to the onslaught. Once convinced of the futility of fighting against overwhelming odds, and with some 50,000 lives in his hands, he makes the switch to the more tactical thinking that has kept the Colonial fleet at least one step ahead of their Cylon pursuers. Not only this, but from the outset, he is savvy enough to give every single survivor of the devastating attack on the 12 colonies a reason for hope for the future: the legend of Earth.
If Adama has any failings they are his mistrust of politicians and his strong sense of loyalty to those he regards as family and friends. The former is demonstrated in his uneasy acceptance of Laura Roslin (mini-series, 33, Water), which is quickly undermined by Roslin's one doubts following her encounter with Leoben Conoy (Flesh and Bone). The latter is most clearly demonstrated by both his support of Colonel Saul Tigh and his actions when Kara Thrace is posted as Missing in Action.
Despite Tigh's obvious drinking problem (mini series), Adama retains him as his Executive Officer when another commanding officer might have too easily transferred Tigh to a planetside desk job to avoid the embarrassment. While this demonstrates Adama's unstinting friendship for Tigh, it does the colonel no favours with the officers and crew under his command - many of whom are openly dismissive of him (mini series) - a fact that may have encouraged his drinking.
With Thrace, Adama's loyalty places the mission to find her above the need to protect the fleet and ensure the survival of humanity - thus putting everyone at risk (You Can't Go Home Again).
Since the attack on the 12 colonies, Adama has striven to lead the remnants of humanity with the same conviction as has marked his entire military career. Military discipline remains intact aboard the Galactica, and she continues to operate as a top-rate, front-line warship, despite her lack of any other military support and despite her reduced compliment in terms of both fighters and crew (Mini-Series).
Away from the daily rigours of command, he has also had to face up to the problem of humanoCylon infiltration within the fleet (Litmus, Flesh and Bone, Secrets and Lies) and the possibility of a saboteur aboard the Galactica herself (Water) - who may still be at large, waiting for an opportunity to strike again. Beyond this, he has also had to redefine the the boundaries of military and civil leadership, working as best he can with Laura Roslin, now recognised as the President of the people of the 12 colonies following to loss of the rest of President Adar's cabinet.
Since the attack, Adama has also faced the beginnings of a reconciliation with his son Lee, and faced the truth concerning Zak Adama's death, and Kara Thrace's role within it. In a strange way, these two events have been something of a catalyst for one another - Thrace's admission to Adama forcing him to realise how precious his remaining son is to him, and how difficult a father he must have been (You Can't Go Home Again, Hand of God); Adama's ability to admit his love and respect for his son enabling him to overcome his anger towards Thrace following her admission to him (Act of Contrition).
--Colonial Archivist 20:10, 4 Jan 2005 (EST)