Richard Robau

Captain Richard Robau is a 23rd century Starfleet officer who served as the commanding officer of the USS Kelvin in 2233. His only film appearance is in the 2009 feature film Star Trek. His first officer is George Kirk, father of James T. Kirk.

Alternate reality
In an alternate reality, the USS Kelvin encounters a massive disturbance in space, a black hole described as a "lightning storm in space". A Romulan mining ship from the future called the Narada emerges from the black hole and immediately attacks the Kelvin. After inflicting heavy damage on the Kelvin, the Narada's captain, Nero, requests that Robau take a shuttlecraft to the Romulan ship. Robau hands command to his first officer George Samuel Kirk, Sr., and orders him to begin an evacuation of the crew, before departing in a shuttlecraft.

Upon arrival on the Narada, Robau is brought before Nero and questioned by Nero's first officer, Ayel, regarding the location of Ambassador Spock and his vessel, the Jellyfish. Having no knowledge of either, Ayel asks him the stardate. When Robau replies that it is stardate 2233.04, Nero realizes that the Narada has jumped into the past. Nero kills Robau with his teral'n. The termination of Robau's lifesigns is registered aboard the Kelvin.

Background
Richard Robau is portrayed by Faran Tahir. His first name comes from official production material, including his dossier profile on the official movie site, although the Star Trek novelization gives his name as Pierre Robau. A display monitoring his lifesigns in the film shows displays his name as "Capt. R. Robau".

Robau was born in Sagua La Grande, Cuba, and his Starfleet Service Number is SA-476-2549-CM. Robau was named after the Cuban-born uncle of Star Trek co-writer and executive producer Roberto Orci. According to Orci, he had imagined Robau being born in Cuba and raised in the Middle East.