Did you know that Dan is getting a custom jacket made that resembles our design of the Federation Costume? That is a serious fan, and we're lucky enough to be featuring him this week on our Meet the Team!

What do you do on Star Trek Online?

I’m a content designer on STO. I get to design and create some of the episodic content and the events that the players experience in our game. I’m a lifelong Star Trek lover, so for me this also means that everything I create must feel like it belongs in the Star Trek universe. If you play one of my episodes and don’t feel like you just watched something from one of the series or movies, then I’m not doing my job correctly.

How long have you worked in gaming, and what did you do before Star Trek Online?

I have been in the industry for two years now. Before STO, I worked on Champions Online for a few months. Before Cryptic, I worked on an “unannounced title” at Superstition Studios in Mesa Arizona. Before all of that I worked in the telecommunications industry for 14 years. STO however is my dream job and now that I’m here, I’m never leaving.... muwhahahahahha.

Who is your favorite Star Trek character and why?

This is a tough one. I would have to say Kahn. He was not only the man, but he was the only one to ever really give Kirk a run for his money. think that Star Trek II was probably the thing that pushed me over the edge from casual fan to hard core fan. I saw the movie when it was first released in the theatres in the 80’s, which I think was a completely different experience than watching it now on DVD. When people see it now for the first time, you already know that the crew of the Enterprise makes it out alive and that eventually Spock returns. However when I first saw the movie, none of those things were written in stone yet.

What is an interesting fact about you that players would be surprised to know?

In my previous career I did a great deal of work on the data networking system behind both the Federal Do Not Call Program and the system that handles all the calls for American Idol. I also created one of the first dial-up ISP’s in the State of Texas in 1990.

If you could choose to be an alien on Star Trek, which species would you want to be?

Definitely the Jem’Hadar. Those guys are just scary cool. I mean how awesome is it to be born a battle-ready warrior, hatched from a pod that really needs no sleep OR food. Not to mention their natural ability to cloak themselves.

If you were faced with the Kobayashi Maru, what would be your solution?

Unfortunately for the poor Kobayashi Maru, I would probably have to pass on rendering them aid. I would instead give priority to the safety of my ship and crew as well as my oath to Starfleet, or as once said by Spock. “The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few”. Perhaps I’m really a Vulcan at heart… Who knew? :)

Which is cooler: monkeys, robots, pirates, or ninjas?

Robots are cooler of course. Did you really even need to ask?

What advice do you have for someone who wants to break into the gaming industry?

Follow your dreams and your heart. If you want it bad enough you will make it happen. I’m living proof of that. There are different roads to get you there. It really just depends on how you want to go about it. I chose the road of education. I’m a graduate of the Guildhall Program at S.M.U. It’s a great program but very demanding. If you make it through, you’re more than prepared to enter the Industry.

What was your first favorite video game?

It’s a close race between Defender and Donkey Kong. Wow! Suddenly I feel very, very old.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Despite what Daniel would have you believe, the “dStahl Maneuver” is in fact an exploit. ™.