Conan Antonio Motti Conan Antonio Motti was the Chief of the Imperial Navy who held the rank of admiral aboard the Death Star during the Galactic Civil War . Motti was extremely confident in his viewpoint that the Death Star was invulnerable , believing that the Rebel Alliance posed no threat to the battle station . He was even bold and arrogant enough to openly question Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader for his failure to discover the location of the Rebellion ' s secret base during one meeting in the Death Star . For this , Vader Force choke d him . Despite Motti ' s unshakable faith in the Death Star , the Rebel Alliance — which had obtained a copy of the Death Star blueprints — managed to find a weak spot in the station ' s defenses , and succeeded in destroying it during a battle above the Death Star , killing Motti . Biography . Early life and career . Conan Antonio Motti was a human male who hailed from a wealthy and powerful family in the Outer Rim . A native of Seswenna , Motti became an officer in the Imperial Navy , eventually rising to the rank of Rear Admiral , commanding the Star Destroyer " Steel Talon " . In 14 BBY , he was a member of the Joint Chiefs . By this time , he was considered by Emperor Sheev Palpatine to be a potential candidate for the newly - created position of Grand Moff . However , this position eventually went to Moff Wilhuff Tarkin , who played a major part in a plot to destroy several Imperial space station s . However , Motti was involved in the campaign , being apart of several meetings of the Joint Chiefs at Imperial Center . Due to this , he received a promotion from the Emperor . Death Star command . By 0 BBY , he was aboard the Death Star , a planet - destroying battle station , and served as not only an Admiral , but the Chief of the Imperial Navy , as well remaining a Joint Chief . When the Alliance to Restore the Republic managed to obtain a copy of the technical readouts of the Death Star , the Rebel corvette carrying the stolen plans was captured by Darth Vader , but the plans themselves eluded the Dark Lord . During a meeting of high ranking Imperial staff aboard the station , he argued with General Cassio Tagge of the Imperial Army over the effectiveness of the Death Star and the threat of the Rebellion in the Galactic Civil War . Tagge felt that the Rebel Alliance posed a threat to the battle station , whereas Motti was confident that the superweapon was invincible . Tagge also feared that the growing Rebel movement would gain sympathy in the Imperial Senate . However , the two were interrupted by Grand Moff Tarkin , who informed the officers present that the Senate had been recently dissolved by the Emperor himself . The regional governors would now have direct control over systems , and the planets would not dare step out of line due to fear of the Death Star . However , Tagge continued to insist that the Rebellion was dangerous , especially if they had obtained a copy of the Death Star plans . Though Darth Vader — who had recently arrived to interrogate Prince ss Leia Organa — admitted that the plans were in the hands of the Rebellion , he proclaimed that soon the Empire would have them . Motti then boasted of the Death Star ' s power , claiming that it was the preeminent power in the galaxy . However , Vader rebutted this claim , warning Motti not to underestimate the power of the Force . Arrogance clouding his judgment , Motti mocked Vader , insulting his devotion to the Force , alleging that it had not helped him recover the stolen Death Star plans or locate the Rebels ' hidden base . In response , Vader simply Force choke d him while rebuking him for his disturbing lack of faith , relenting only when ordered to do so by Tarkin but only at the very last moment . Motti slumped across the conference table , gasping for breath and considerably unnerved . Motti later submitted a sharply worded incident report regarding the matter in which he stated that he would submit to discipline if necessary , but objected to Vader ' s attempt to proselytize him in his religion and stressing that it was important to take pride in this project that had taken so much of the Empire ' s time and effort . When the Death Star arrived near Organa ' s home planet of Alderaan , Motti informed Tarkin prior to Vader ' s return with the Princess in his possession . Tarkin threatened to destroy the planet if she did not reveal the location of the Alliance ' s base , and Organa informed them that the base was on Dantooine . Tarkin then ordered the Death Star ' s superlaser to fire when ready , shocking the princess . He felt that this would be a demonstration that would terrify the rest of the galaxy — fear would keep dissidents in line . A group of Rebels managed to make it aboard the Death Star , and succeeded in freeing Organa from her cell . They then fled in their ship , the " Millennium Falcon " . Imperial stormtrooper s had placed a tracking device aboard the starship earlier , however , and the Empire was able to track the freighter to the Rebel base on a moon of the planet Yavin , which was located in in the Outer Rim . A battle began between the Imperial and Rebel forces above the Death Star . When several X - wing fighters proved adept at evading the station ' s defenses , Vader manned his personal TIE fighter and attacked them . He began picking off the surviving fighters one by one , but some officer s nevertheless began to worry that the Rebel attack posed a danger . However , the Alliance was aware of a flaw in the Death Star — a small , uncovered thermal exhaust port leading directly to the station ' s main reactor . Against all odds , and much to Tarkin ' s surprise , a Rebel X - wing piloted by Luke Skywalker succeeded in flying through the trench where the exhaust port was located , and successfully fired a pair of proton torpedo es into the shaft , causing the Death Star to explode , instantly killing all those on board , Motti included . Personality and traits . Motti was loyal to Grand Moff Tarkin and held a rivalry against Vader . The admiral believed in the infallibility of the Death Star , feeling that any attack made by the Rebellion against the station would be a useless gesture doomed to fail . According to Leia Organa , Motti enjoyed one of the largest egos in the galaxy . He was extremely arrogant and condescending to everyone around him , including fellow high - ranking officers like the more pragmatic General Tagge . He was also dismissive of the Force and doubted its very existence , calling Darth Vader a mere sorcerer with a " sad devotion to an ancient religion . " This nearly resulted in his death when Vader Force - choked him for his insolence . Motti ' s arrogance led him to submit a lengthy incident report on the strangulation incident between him and Darth Vader in the Death Star conference room . Despite being on the receiving end of the Sith Lord ' s displeasure , Motti remained unrepentant , insisting that Vader was the one at fault for using violence , which Motti interpreted as meaning that he had won the argument . He further insinuated that Vader and Tagge were disloyal to the Empire , the former for putting his faith in the Force over the Death Star and the latter for being overly - concerned with the strength of the Rebellion . Though Motti was more humble after his encounter with Vader , he nonetheless remained convinced of the Death Star ' s infallibility up until it blew up around him . Behind the scenes . Motti first appeared in the film " " , released in 1977 . He was played by Richard LeParmentier , who was credited as " General Motti . " Richard LeParmentier has stated that he is pleased to be remembered as Motti , and that he considers it an honor to have been part of " Star Wars " . LeParmentier was producing an animated fan film called " Motti Now " , in which Motti survives the Battle of Yavin and abandons the Empire . Motti ' s full name was revealed by George Lucas on an episode of " Late Night with Conan O ' Brien " on May 1 , 2007 . When Lucas was asked the name of the officer choked by Vader in " A New Hope " , he replied " Conan Antonio Motti " , which was confirmed in - universe in " Star Wars Legends " novels and later in the canon novel " Tarkin " .