Alec Ryder

A seasoned galactic explorer, Alec Ryder was a member of Jon Grissom's original task force which travelled through the Charon mass relay – the first encountered by humanity – in 2149. Ryder would go on to further prove his mettle by completing N7 training, solidifying himself as one of the Alliance military's elite. Eventually recruited into the role of Pathfinder for the Andromeda Initiative, Ryder represents the tip of the spear in humanity's efforts to find a new home in this unknown galaxy.

As the human Pathfinder, Ryder works closely with the Initiative's founder, Jien Garson. He is the Pathfinder for the human Ark ship, Hyperion. He has at least two children; a son and a daughter.

Background
Born on Earth in 2129, Alec Ryder says his love of new frontiers was fostered by a childhood in the Sierra Nevadas. According to his service record, he joined the Alliance military and was eventually assigned to Jon Grissom's historic expedition through the Charon Relay.

His experience made him a candidate for what would later be known as N7 training back on Earth. Alec continued military service, most notably on Shanxi in the First Contact War against the turians.

Assigned as a military attaché to the Citadel in the late 2160s, Alec became interested in artificial intelligence as a means of human advancement. Being that AIs are illegal under Council law, however, his eventual research and experimentation on AIs resulted in a dishonorable discharge from the Alliance military.

Mass Effect: Andromeda
During the mission to Habitat 7, Alec sacrifices himself to save his child from oxygen starvation after they sustain damage to their helmet. He transfers the role of Pathfinder to Ryder, creating a deeper bond between him/her and the AI, SAM.

Trivia

 * As with the Ryder children, Alec's appearance can be customized according to player preferences: his appearance is automatically derived based on the twins'.