Steve Cortez

Lieutenant Steve Cortez is an Alliance pilot aboard the Normandy SR-2 in Mass Effect 3, where he pilots the UT-47A Kodiak that transports Commander Shepard and squad to mission locations.

He is a potential romance option for a male Shepard.

Dossier
Cortez is the only child in his family and had previously lost both of his parents years ago. He had a husband while he was stationed at Ferris Fields but unfortunately the Collectors abducted the whole colony, along with Cortez's husband. As such, he is the only openly gay male shown in the Mass Effect universe.

He has been enlisted in the Alliance for about ten years, first serving in the First Fleet on-board the SSV Hawking piloting F-61 Tridents. According to him, he has a knack for procurements but his skill set made him a more valuable person to command a flight deck.

Five months prior to the Reaper's invasion of Earth, Cortez was assigned to the Normandy SR-2 retrofit team, responsible for overseeing cargo bay modifications. His immediate task was to shift the Normandy's armory from its previous location behind the CIC to the shuttle bay.

Besides being a Kodiak pilot aboard the Normandy SR-2, he is also responsible for maintaining the Normandy's armory, a duty he shares with Lt. James Vega.

If Shepard manages to convince Cortez to leave the ship, he will eventually visit the Memorial Wall in Dock E28 on the Citadel. When he leaves there, he will meet up with some old pilot friends and forward their information to Admiral Hackett, giving the Alliance some much needed pilots.

Fate
During the final assault on Earth, after dropping off Shepard and his squad, he is shot down and is assumed lost.