Will Kayden was a Starfleet officer serving in the 24th century. During the Federation-Cardassian War, Kayden served aboard the USS Rutledge under Captain Benjamin Maxwell. Kayden was good friends with fellow Rutledge crewman Miles O'Brien. He was affectionately nicknamed "Stompie" by his shipmates and was well known for his fondness of the old Earth song The Minstrel Boy. In combat, Maxwell remembered Kayden as being as cool under fire as a mountain lake. He died fighting the Cardassians on Setlik III during the Setlik III massacre. (TNG: "The Wounded" )