Dessard was a commandant who served the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War. He was stationed at a Wookiee child slave labor camp during the liberation of Kashyyyk. After the Wookiee slave Lumpawaroo escaped, Dessard and his men gave chase. However, they stumbled into a group of adult Wookiees and New Republic soldiers. Dessard's men were killed and the Commandant himself was taken prisoner by Waroo's father Chewbacca.