<strong>Basic Information</strong><br/>Name: Melinda Nicole Briggs<br/>Age: 44<br/>Gender: Female<br/>Species: Human<br/>Marital Status: Divorced - Connor Luke Taft (50)<br/>Children: Bobbi Lynn Taft (21), Avery Shawn Doyle (19), Mitchel Grey Taft (18), Samantha Joy Taft (15)<br/>Next of Kin: Connor Taft<br/><br/><strong>Academics</strong><br/>Graduation Year: 2351<br/>Major Field of Study: Command<br/>Specialization: Command<br/><br/><strong>About You</strong><br/>Basic Description: Melinda stands 5'6, with lengthy dark brown hair that is just now starting to show some signs of greying. She keeps active and her body reflects that, though under the uniform it's clear that she's a mother of four - far from unfit, but somethings you just can't exercise away. She is a powerful presence, squared shoulders that rarely slack and excellent posture. She walks with purpose, speaks with authority, and scrutinizes with experience.<br/><br/>Psychological Profile: Schedules are boring, and plans don't survive contact with reality - she might as well have coined the phrase, "We're winging it". Melinda is an improvisor that values creativity, ingenuity, and general outside-the-box thinking and problem solving. Because of this she is also a pusher of limits, and while not blatantly disrespectful has little compunction about calling bad ideas exactly that - even when they come from her superiors. Despite a willingness to<em>challenge</em>orders, she isn't usually one to disobey them; so long as she is afforded the opportunity to be heard and her position is at least considered, she can be placated. She is a non-micromanager, and prefers to allow people to stumble so that they can learn - and so she can help pick them up. To that end she is a tad on the disorganized side.<br/><br/>Melinda is an aggressively driven individual that thrives on challenge and opportunity. In more recent years, however, she has become nostalgic for her family and has begun reconnecting with her children. These interactions have smoothed over some of the rough edges of her personality, most notably splashing in fair chunk of humor that had not been present until recently. Having missed out on those matronly years with her children but not connecting to it, has turned her into something of a Officer's mom - she is enthusiastically engaged with her staff, their goals, and helping them realize them.<br/><br/>Long-Term Goals: Melinda has a dream job: Vice Admiral in charge of strategic deployment.<em>However</em>, she is interested and willing to consider a comparable leadership role in ship design and oversight.<br/><br/><strong>Service Record</strong><br/>2347: With the recommendation of Lt. Commander Vincent Doyle, and her father Commander Author Briggs (who only agreed once she had the support of a different officer), Melina enters Starfleet Academy at age 16.<br/>2351: Melinda graduates Starfleet Academy at 20, is given the rank of Ensign, and assigned as an Operations Officer aboard the USS Charity.<br/>Personal Log: It is aboard the USS Charity that she meets Lieutenant Connor Taft. In 2353, at age 22, Melinda and Connor get married. The following year - 2354 - Melinda and Connor have their first child, Bobbi Lynn.<br/>2355: For outstanding service, Melinda is promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade at 24. She is reassigned to the USS Thunderchild as an assistant to now Commander Vincent Doyle.<br/>Personal Log: Melinda and Vincent begin an affair that culminates in the birth of Avery Shawn in 2356. Following this news, Connor retires from Starfleet in hopes to pressure Melinda to do the same, so that they can work on their marriage.<br/>2357: Melinda requests a transfer to the USS Yamaguchi, which is approved swiftly due to her service record at this point; she is assigned as the Conn Officer, as well as serving as a shuttle pilot. Melinda is required to appear and testify in the court martial of Vincent Doyle - for behaviors unbecoming of an officer.<br/>Personal Log: Efforts to repair their marriage lead to the birth of Mitchel Grey in 2357.<br/>2358: An away mission gone awry, one of the Yamaguchi's shuttles becomes trapped in an orbital storm that threatens to tear it apart. Melinda deploys in a second shuttle and preforms a risky rescue that sees both shuttles destroyed, but herself and all seven of the individuals on the original shutter back aboard the Yamaguchi safely. This sets into motion a series of events that ultimately results in her promotion at age 28 to Lieutenant.<br/>Personal Log: Clinging to their marriage, Samantha Joy is born in 2360. However when Melinda refuses to resign and focus on their family, Connor demands that they separate. He takes the children to raise them without her, which gives Melinda ample opportunity to focus on her career - a situation she is bitter about, citing that Connor, their marriage, and that family have been holding her back for years.<br/>2365: Able to focus on her career, Melinda is able to demonstrate her capabilities without hesitation and those things that she excelled at earlier in life haven't dulled. Finally, at age 34, she is promoted to Lieutenant Commander and reassigned to the USS Galaxy as its Intelligence Officer.<br/>Personal Log: Two years later in 2367, the USS Yamaguchi is destroyed at the Battle of Wolf 359. The loss of some many friends hits Melinda particularly hard and makes her thirsty for vengeance.<br/>2368: Melinda transfers to the Antares Ship Yards located in the Bajor Sector to help design the Defiant-class prototype, USS Defiant.<br/>2371: As tensions rise with the Dominion, the Ambassador-class USS Tempest is launched in preparations for escalation. Melinda is one of three short-list candidates selected by Captain Idris Rocheford. Her work on the Defiant-class starships wins her a seat at the table, but it is ultimate the dedication that saw her want to serve the Federation even at the near total expense of her family, that makes Rocheford select her. At 40 years old, Melinda is promoted to Commander and serves as first officer aboard the Tempest.<br/>2375: In the wake of the Dominion War, after serving on the front lines as first officer of the Tempest - and for her many deeds of note during the war - Melinda is promoted to Captain, at 44, and given command of the Starship...<br/><br/>Prefered Starship Class(es): Sovereign > Intrepid > Ambassador / Galaxy