Henry Gloval

The Robotech Defense Force couldn't have found a more capable person to command the SDF-1 than Henry Gloval. Resolute and determined, the veteran Russian naval officer was the consensus choice of the united Earth government to oversee the reconstruction of the immense alien battlefortress that crash-landed on Macross Island.

Born Henryk Jozef Glovalsky to a Russian father and a Lithuanian mother, he distinguished himself as an officer in the Russian Navy. He served aboard both surface vessels and submarines and was a career military man.

Through the upheaval of the late 20th Century leading into the Global War, Gloval remained a steadfast presence and was highly regarded among the men and women who served under him, as well as his fellow officers and superiors. This respect crossed over to his adversaries in other military forces.

As American forces moved to stabilize an out-of-control political and military situation in the Asian Pacific, the Russian Navy was ordered to deter American forces. This pitted Gloval against former allies he had worked with during the hopeful days following the end of the Cold War.

It was while leading an American carrier task force on a chase across the Pacific Ocean that Gloval was caught up in the extraordinary arrival of the alien battlefortress. Surviving the initial shockwave, Gloval and the crew of his nuclear submarine, the Minsk, were the first humans to arrive on the crash scene. Knowing that his own government would not be able to control the site, Gloval defied orders and allowed an international team of experts to investigate the wreckage. This precedent helped to broker an international ceasefire, and eventually helped lead to the formation of the United Earth Government.

Gloval became a leading figure among Earth's military, and his unblemished reputation allowed him to reach consensus among fellow military officers around the world. Among his key supporters was Donald Hayes, who had been both ally and adversary in the past.

For 10 years, Gloval marshaled the resources of the entire planet to rebuild the battlefortress. It was only natural that Gloval was appointed as commander of the Earth's first Super Dimension Fortress. When the Zentraedi arrived to reclaim their lost ship, Gloval launched the SDF-1 into the First Robotech War.

Gloval's leadership was crucial during the SDF-1's voyage back to Earth. His experience and calm amid the unbearable tensions made him an inspirational leader for the thousands of soldiers and officers under his command. In particular, he emerged as an admired father figure among the all-female bridge crew.

First Appearance:
Episode 1 - "Boobytrap"