Robert DeSoto Captain Robert DeSoto was the commanding officer of the Federation starship and one of Starfleet ' s most celebrated officer s . From 2361 to 2364 , his first officer was Lieutenant Commander William T . Riker . During a mission to Altair III , Riker refused to allow Captain DeSoto to lead the away mission , due to the dangers the planet possessed . Despite this incident , Captain DeSoto had a great respect for Riker and regretted his transfer to the . ( ) Captain Picard referenced this incident to Admiral Pressman as the reason he selected Riker to be his first officer . ( ) DeSoto still commanded the " Hood " in 2366 when his vessel rendezvoused with the " Enterprise " - D , to deliver Tam Elbrun . DeSoto noted that while the " boys " aboard the " Enterprise " - D got to enjoy the frontier , " " me , I ' m hauling my butt back and forth between starbase s . " " ( ) Al Lorenzo ' s collection of holophoto s included one of him sitting behind DeSoto ' s desk after sneaking into his office . ( ) Appendices . Background information . Captain DeSoto was played by actor Michael Cavanaugh in his only " Star Trek " appearance . In the script for " Tin Man " , DeSoto ' s first name was listed as Jonathan in the cast list , but he was called Robert in dialogue . The script also provided some background behind his " put - on " griping , stating it " " is an old song going back to when he and Picard served together as lieutenant s . " " Apocrypha . The " Brave and the Bold " short story " The Third Artifact " establishes DeSoto ' s parents as being Starfleet Captain Mirabelle Brodeur and civilian doctor Hiram DeSoto . It also says that during his time at Starfleet Academy , DeSoto was a member of the " Academy team " , and team captain in his junior and senior years , winning two out of four Federation championships . By 2371 , DeSoto has married , and he and his wife live on the Rigel colonies . " The Fourth Artifact " indicates that DeSoto remained as captain of the " Hood " during the Dominion War , and served with distinction during the First Battle of Chin ' toka in 2374 . In the " " novel " The Buried Age " , DeSoto sends his condolences to Picard on the destruction of the . The " " novel " Paths of Disharmony " , states DeSoto distinguished himself in early engagements with the Cardassian s , as well as the Jem ' Hadar during the Dominion War , and also became quite a diplomat , helping to negotiate treaties with the Cardassians , Romulan s , and the Breen . Furthermore , in 2382 , DeSoto contacts Picard to inform him of the retirement of Admiral Eric Hasslein from his position at Starfleet Command , and to inform the Captain that Admiral Leonard James Akaar is considering " him " for the position . He also informed Picard that he is being considered for an Ambassadorship . DeSoto also appears in the Pocket VOY novel " " , as one of the officers present at the debriefing of Captain Kathryn Janeway , after the returns to Earth from the Delta Quadrant , in 2378 . The novel also mentions DeSoto as being on a short list of high - ranking Starfleet officers that may have been involved in the sale of intelligence and technology to the Orion Syndicate . According to the video game " " , DeSoto is the first captain of the , though he eventually relinquishes this position . The novel " Articles of the Federation " states he regained command of the Hood by 2380 . In the Pocket TNG novel " Losing the Peace " , DeSoto is promoted to Admiral and assigned to the position of " Director of Postwar Rebuilding Efforts " , following the destruction of the Borg Collective . DeSoto was the second choice for the position , after Jean - Luc Picard turned it down . The " Star Trek Customizable Card Game " " " mentions DeSoto as having an interest in exobiology .