- This document is an initial edit, largely generated by a language learning model (erroneously called "A.I.") based on the source materials it was provided. Please feel free to correct as needed.Jonathan Ford is the Executive Officer of the seaQuest, a position that underscores his career-long dedication to military service. Ford is described as being in his early 30s, black, and extremely efficient. He is characterized by an intense weariness from years of action, but he is also relieved to be out of the action. Ford is a career military officer, and he states that he has been in the service since he was seventeen. He claims that he was the youngest Executive Officer to ever graduate from the academy, and that he has seen many recruits who look like they have potential.
Ford is part of the team brought in to get the seaQuest activated and running, and he mentions that he has been assigned to the ship for almost three years. Ford is initially presented as a loyal officer who is primarily interested in following orders and doing his duty. He is also very competent and professional, but his lack of experience begins to show. Ford is initially unsure about Nathan Bridger and is wary of him. He is not entirely comfortable with the way Bridger takes command of the ship, and how he challenges standard military procedures. Throughout the episode, Ford interacts with Bridger on several occasions, and he seems to be developing a sense of respect for Bridger’s abilities and approach.
Ford's knowledge of Marilyn Stark is significant. It is revealed that Ford knows about Stark and her renegade sub, and that he served under her at Livingston Trench. He is aware of how dangerous she is and that she has her own agenda. He also recognizes the strategic threat that Stark presents, and is concerned with her motives. He knows she deliberately seeks to destroy her own ship, and that there is a deeper reason for her attack. Ford is aware that Stark is after the seaQuest.
Despite this knowledge, Ford does not directly take action to remove Stark from command. He appears to be caught in his role as a subordinate officer, following protocol even as a crisis unfolds. When the seaQuest is attacked by the renegade sub, Ford is overwhelmed by the situation and initially unsure of the correct course of action. It is Ford who offers command to Nathan Bridger, which marks a shift in his perspective, showing his recognition of Bridger’s capabilities in a crisis.
During the attack on the Gedrick Power Station, Ford shows concern for the lives of the people at the station. He is also ready to give up and follow the manual in a crisis, but Bridger is able to take command and save the ship.
Ford does not have a direct role in removing Stark from command. Rather, it is Bridger, through his actions and command, that leads to the defeat of Stark and her sub. Ford's actions are instead focused on supporting Bridger and recognizing his leadership. By the end of the episode, Ford is clearly impressed by Bridger and apologizes for his earlier lack of honesty. He seems to acknowledge the effectiveness of Bridger's unconventional methods and the way he handled the crisis. Ford’s final act is to offer Bridger the helm of the Seaquest.