Andrew J. Steele

January 20 2453 - January 20 2469

## 119th Grand Marshall of the United States Armed Forces

March 17 2439 - January 20 2453

**Andrew Jackson Steele** (September 29, 2400 - December 28, 2593) was an American politician, soldier, and author who served as the 121st President of the United States and the 7th Commandant of Terra from 2453 to 2469, serving an unprecedented four terms. Nicknamed "America's Pinochet" or the "Modern MacArthur", Steele served in the United States Army from 2417 to 2453, rising to the rank of Grand Marshall in 2439, appointed by President James Wildfire after the Third Barryn War.

A member of the historic Steele Family, Steele was born to a middle-class family in the small town of Cascade Falls, Alaska. He grew up steeped in American history, and went into the army with a deep respect for its past heroes. He also admired figures such as Chile's Augusto Pinochet, and impressed his superiors with his tactical skills.

In 2439, after leading a successful campaign against the Barryn, and with the retirement of Grand Marshall Adam Nowak, President Wildfire appointed Steele as his successor. Serving in the position for 14 years, Steele was a popular Marshall, and gained much adoration in the press.

In 2452, Steele, disgusted by what he deemed Anti-American policies of President Samir Malik-Osman, and with the full support of his family, decided to run for President. With the unpopular incumbent vs. the popular war hero, it was no contest. Steele defeated Osman in a landslide, though he did trail in polls up until September.

Inaugurated in 2453 as the 121st President, Steele set about implementing his policies. Like James Frost, Steele saw the presidency in strictly military terms, and had little patience for Congress. One of his primary goals was achieving military dominance in the Orion Arm to guard against any foes potentially more advanced than the United States and her fledging space empire.

In 2455 the nation would be shaken by the Toronto Attacks, and Steele's leadership and swift action gained him universal praise on the left and right. In 2456 Steele deployed the Army into Patagonia after discovering that the attack had been carried out by the neo-Incan terrorist group Quechua. His defeat of the terrorists allowed him to easily coast to a second term in late 2456.

Infamously, Steele personally executed the Quechuan's leaders, something he had done to enemy officers as a military commander.

In 2458, the Laiz Confederacy attacked American mining outposts.

Steele is ranked high by historians, who praise his tough, dedicated leadership, ardent devotion to God and country, and his never-ending faith in American Exceptionalism. His leadership in the Laiz War is greatly praised. Some, however, criticize his choice to run for four terms, though others point out that the people chose him in each, and always had the chance to turn him out. Others criticize his military dictatorship-like administration.

Steele is credited with establishing a proper US military presence in the outer solar systems, and pushing back hostile alien forces while decimating terrorists at home. He greatly integrated the Terran Assembly and forced all nations to join it to present a united front.

Steele, after his presidency, retired to his hometown with his wife Millicent. Together, they wrote the popular James Whitewood detective novel series. Steele died on December 28, 2593, at the age of 193.