Pollard served in the past with Lieutenant Thompkins, Ensign Sheraan of Security and Ensign Storik of Engineering; respecting their skills, he requested the transfer of those officers to his command.

Pollard is slightly above average in height, average in weight and because he is allergic to Retinox 5, wears glasses to correct his astigmatism. He is stoop-shouldered, has some tendency toward balding, and looks very much like a university professor.

Commodore Pollard has two desires in life: to return to teaching at the Academy, and to command the Yorktown, the ship where he feels he "grew up". He would happily accept the attainment of either goal, but intends to give his current command all the attention it deserves. He is willing to wait quietly for his opportunity to come, and is confident that it will arrive before he retires from Starfleet.

Pollard is a soft-spoken but competent commanding officer. Always willing to listen objectively to another's viewpoint, he is a popular superior.

An excellent instructor, he also possesses the needed skills to make a formidable commander in battle. Peaceful by nature, he tries never to make unreasonable demands on his subordinates. He is also a connoisseur of herbal teas, and given the chance, will talk about his interest at length while off duty.

He has a healthy respect for Romulans as individuals and as opponents, and so is not entirely favorable to lengthy exposure to them, although he has the natural curiosity of a teacher.