George Hammond

Gen. George Hammond

Summary

Major General George Hammond was on his way to retiring when Apophis attacked the SGC. Suddenly the officer and gentleman from Texas found himself commanding one of the most significant endeavors in the history of the world: the Stargate Program. He led the SGC with wisdom and courage for seven years, when he was promoted to become the head of Homeworld Security on behalf of the United States. A year later he retired, and worked for the President as an advisor. He died of a sudden heart attack. His leadership was a unique and admirable combination of devotion to duty and to the people in his command. He defended his country and planet from external as well as internal threats, and protected the lives and reputations of the men and women under his command to the best of his ability.

George: A Visual History

Comprehensive Character Biography

Career

George Hammond is originally from Texas (1.12 "Bloodlines", 2.01 "The Serpent's Lair Part 2"). He was a career officer in the Air Force. During his tenure as a lieutenant, he became acquaintances with a fellow officer, Lieutenant Henry Hayes, gaining a mutual respect that both recalled years later when Hayes was President (7.21 "Lost City Part 1").

As a lieutenant, Hammond was stationed in Cheyenne Mountain in 1969. During this tour of duty, he was ordered to escort four intruders and their unusual equipment out of the base. Their detailed knowledge of his past and future life and a note from his future self convinced him to help the four strangers escape. It is uncertain what influences learning that he would become a general may have had on Hammond's life. Thirty years later, General George Hammond made certain to write the note and give it to SG-1, whom he recognized as being the four intruders. He knew when to give them the note when he saw Samantha Carter's hand injury (2.21 "1969").

Hammond also served in the Vietnam conflict, possibly as a pilot, since he witnessed his best friend shot down: "I know he survived, I saw his 'chute open, radioed his position. But I never found out what happened to him. His body was never recovered; the Vietnamese never admitted they took him prisoner" (5.21 "Revelations"). Other assignments during Hammond's early career are unknown.

His next confirmed posting was as Major General when he returned to Cheyenne Mountain in the late 1990s, replacing General West as commander of the mothballed Stargate project located underneath NORAD (1.01 "Children of the Gods Part 1"). This retirement posting turned into an active command after aliens came through the supposedly obsolete Stargate, killed some personnel and kidnapped a female airman. The only sources of information Hammond could use to gain intelligence about these invaders were the three surviving members of the original mission to Abydos. He ordered Major Samuels to retrieve the now retired Colonel Jack O'Neill while he debriefed the other mission members, Ferretti and Kawalsky. When they didn't talk, he approached O'Neill, who was very flip. Needing to prevent further alien threats and not getting any answers, Hammond ordered a nuclear weapon be sent to Abydos again. At that point, O'Neill admitted that the initial report was incomplete. Though Ra and his ship were destroyed, Abydos and its people still existed on the other side of the Stargate, along with the civilian member of the expedition Dr. Daniel Jackson. Visibly angry, Hammond had O'Neill taken into custody, but withheld sending the bomb through the Stargate.

Hammond once again showed a willingness to explore alternatives within his orders to protect Earth and allowed O'Neill to attempt a low risk communication with Dr. Jackson by sending a tissue box through the Stargate. When the message was acknowledged, he reactivated O'Neill's military status and sent a team, including Capt. Samantha Carter, who had worked on the Stargate project at the Pentagon, through the Stargate on a mission to retrieve Daniel. As a result of this mission, they discovered the Stargate could go to many places throughout the galaxy and that Ra was one of a race of aliens, the Goa'uld, who posed a threat to Earth. The same Goa'uld who attacked Earth, Apophis, also raided Abydos and kidnapped Daniel Jackson's wife and brother-in-law.

Daniel insisted on being part of any rescue mission, since his wife had also been kidnapped. Though Hammond's first inclination was to insist the archeologist remain on base as a civilian expert, he eventually relented and sent Daniel with two newly formed "Stargate teams," SG-1 and SG-2, through the Stargate to Chulak (1.02 "Children of the Gods Part 2"). When they returned, Hammond had a plethora of unique and literally alien decisions to make. Human alien refugees returned with the teams from Chulak as well as a turncoat Jaffa warrior named Teal'c, who O'Neill wanted on his team. While trying to determine the trustworthiness and threat of Teal'c, he found out the leader of SG-2, Kawalsky, had become infected by a Goa'uld parasite (1.03 "The Enemy Within"). At this time, Hammond first displayed his characteristic concern for anyone under his command by ordering everything possible be done to save Major Kawalsky; unfortunately Kawalsky did not survive.

Because of Teal'c's efforts in trying to help save Kawalsky, then later the SGC, Hammond used his influence with his superiors and allowed Teal'c to become the fourth member of SG-1, along with Col. Jack O'Neill, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Capt. Samantha Carter.

After these early missions, Hammond became used to making decisions at his unusual post. He led the SGC through many crises and was almost universally respected by the people under his command during his tenure. He admitted once to O'Neill that he was a month away from retirement before the SGC started up, and he stayed at the post because it was "a wild ride" (1.21 "Within the Serpent's Grasp Part 1"). Though there were occasions where the SGC was shut down and once when Hammond himself was strong-armed into retirement, all these situations were temporary, and Hammond remained in command of the SGC for approximately seven years.

After a new President was inaugurated, Hammond was relieved of command and ordered to report to Washington D.C. for reassignment (7.21 "Lost City Part 1"). He met with the new President, his old Air Force buddy Henry Hayes, and asked to retire. Instead, President Hayes offered him the newly formed position of Director of Homeworld Security, and asked him to take an active role in the fight against Anubis. Hammond took command of Prometheus and successfully led Earth's fleet in the battle over Antarctica while SG-1 reached the Ancient outpost (7.22 "Lost City Part 2"). He then dueled with Anubis's ships in Earth's orbit. When out of ammunition, he showed selfless heroism by ordering Prometheus on a collision course with Anubis's mother ship in the desperate hope to damage the Goa'uld ship and thus save Earth. Luckily, O'Neill activated the Ancient outpost and was able to destroy Anubis's fleet before such measures were necessary.

After this battle, Hammond took on a more administrative role in his new position and was promoted to Lieutenant General. He worked out of the Pentagon, and Jack O'Neill, now Brigadier General and commander of the SGC, reported to him. Still, this active participation in the Battle of Antarctica "got his dander up," and when the President requested he gather a rescue mission to Atlantis for Prometheus, he decided to command the mission himself. (8.12 "Prometheus Unbound"). After the failure of this mission, Hammond returned to his duties in Washington.

A few months later, Hammond retired from the Air Force for good, and it is assumed that General O'Neill assumed command of Homeworld Security. Hammond still remained attached to the Administration and to the Air Force in some capacity. He gave a speech to a large group of Air Force personnel at Peterson Air Force Base on Colorado Springs (9.10 "The Fourth Horseman Part 1"). His office communicated a request by the International Committee now funding the SGC that they wished to speak with Landry (9.11 "The Fourth Horseman Part 2"). Hammond himself visited the base at this time before he was recalled to Washington, taking a flight from Peterson. He died suddenly of a heart attack (SGA 5.20 "Enemy at the Gate"). In honor of Hammond's service and dedication to the Stargate program, the newest 304 Class/Daedalus-class vessel was renamed from the Phoenix to be called the General Hammond.

Characteristics and Motivations

Model of a Major General

As commander of Stargate Command, Hammond was mostly seen in a bureaucratic and administrative role. He protected the facility and his command from internal (e.g. NID and Senator Kinsey) and external, alien threats. Many times the internal adversaries were thwarted by Hammond's own political savvy and connections in high places (such as the President or the Asgard) to ensure the SGC stayed in control of the Stargate. However, if the need arose, he was both willing and able to become a battlefield commander (2.01 "The Serpent's Lair Part 2", 5.17 "Failsafe", 7.01 "Fallen", 7.21 "Lost City Part 1", 8.12 "Prometheus Unbound"). At other times, the battle came to him in Cheyenne Mountain. And in those crises, he proved many times to be a capable commander even in unusual and sometimes surreal circumstances (1.05 "The Broca Divide", 2.20 "Show And Tell", 4.20 "Entity", 5.19 "Menace"). The few times he faltered in decisions were due to succumbing to alien influence and not due to incompetence (1.14 "Hathor", 3.14 "Foothold").

Unfortunately, occasions arose where Hammond's only recourse was to set the base self-destruct to destroy a threat to Earth (5.19 "Menace", 2.07 "Message in a Bottle", 4.20 "Entity", 2.15 "A Matter of Time"). Once alternatives were exhausted, Hammond never shirked in giving that order. Luckily, aside from alternate universes, any threats were eliminated and the self-destruct cancelled before the SGC was destroyed. Any time a threat necessitated evacuation to the Alpha Site, Hammond never used his position of authority to retreat to that location. He always remained at his post (2.01 "The Serpent's Lair Part 2", 5.17 "Failsafe").

Many times, Hammond had to act as diplomat to alien dignitaries. Though most negotiations were done off-world by the various SG teams, Hammond relayed both his own orders and concerns and those of his superiors in Washington (4.09 "Scorched Earth", 4.02 "The Other Side" 7.07 "Enemy Mine"). If necessary, Hammond would become personally involved with aliens off-world, such as his first trip through the Stargate to negotiate for SG-1's release from an alien prison (2.03 "Prisoners"). Other times, he would be in the forefront of negotiations with alien peoples who were invited on the base, either as refugees or for trade or treaty purposes (1.17 "Enigma", 2.02 "The Enemy Within", 3.03 "Fair Game", 3.11 "Past and Present", 3.18 "Shades of Grey", 4.05 "Divide and Conquer", 6.07 "Shadow Play", 7.10 "Birthright", 7.16 "Death Knell", 7.14 "Fallout"). When the Stargate was revealed to some other countries, Hammond was part of the briefing team (6.17 "Disclosure"). Though Hammond often portrayed a polite and respectful diplomat, he could and did make it clear when he should not be crossed and wielded his authority confidently. He was immediately recognized by Bra'tac as an honorable warrior to be respected ("The Serpent's Lair Part 2"). When not present at a visit by Bra'tac, the Jaffa worried: "Has Hammond of Texas fallen in battle?" (7.21 "Lost City Part 1").

Hammond was an honorable, patriotic member of the U.S. Air Force who followed orders. When his superiors made a decision, he enforced their orders with steely determination, even if he did not agree. That said, he was not a stickler for protocol at all times and would bend if there was any room for interpretation to a decision. Examples of this can be seen in his constant tolerance for the maverick style of O'Neill. Another example was when Dr. Jackson wanted to negotiate with some aboriginal Unas on a mining planet rather than resort to force; Hammond intervened on the scientist's behalf to General Vidrine, pointing out negotiations would not interfere with the Pentagon's timetable (7.07 "Enemy Mine"). Hammond always worked within the chain of command to accomplish the noble goals of defending Earth and protecting his people.

Hammond had and presumably still has various connections to people in Washington, including being on good terms with two Presidents (2.14 "Touchstone", 7.22 "Lost City Part 2"). The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs expressed a great deal of respect for Hammond when briefing President Hayes on the existence of the SGC (7.20 "Inauguration"). General Ryan, head of the Air Force, appeared to have a friendly acquaintance with Hammond when he visited the SGC (4.19 "Prodigy"). Hammond had a friendly rivalry with the head of the Air Force Academy (5.13 "Proving Ground"). He is also on a first name basis with the current leader of the SGC, General Hank Landry (9.11 "The Fourth Horseman Part 2"). He exuded confidence and authority and was understandably respected by military and civilian personnel. In turn, he respected the abilities of those he commanded. He was very protective of them, especially when outsiders questioned their abilities or the work done at the SGC. Among those who elicited this response were Major/Colonel Samuels, Colonel Maybourne, Colonel Simmons, the NID, Senator Kinsey, Mr. Woolsey, Mr. Bregman, and Dr. Rodney McKay. Though accused by some of relying too often on use of the "red phone", a direct line to the President, Hammond was only ever seen using it when there was a genuine crisis, whether of the alien or political variety.

As a Major General, Hammond was used to giving orders and having them followed, though he always listened and carefully weighed the opinions of his staff before making a decision, evidencing his cautious and wise leadership. However, once he gave an order, he expected it to be followed and showed a great deal of impatience or anger at any hesitation. Furthermore, if outside influences such as politicians, lesser Pentagon officials, or the NID tried to usurp any of his authority, he was quick to point out who was the commander of the facility. Even so, if he realized he was in error in his judgment: "I'm a big enough man to admit when I'm wrong" (7.18 "Heroes Part 2"). This characteristic is most noticeable in his changed relationship to Teal'c (See Hammond's Relationships).

"My People"

Although his primary motivation was and is protection of Earth, a close second was protection of any of the people under his command. Despite the regulation of closing the iris if an IDC code is not sent, Hammond ignored standard operating procedure if he had evidence it was one of the SG teams and that they were in trouble, such as when O'Neill did not respond to radio contact (4.15 "Chain Reaction"), or when SG-1's GDO and codes may have been compromised after they had been captured (3.19 "New Ground"). If there was ever a search and rescue mission needed for a team or team member, Hammond was the first to give an order and would do anything and everything necessary to save that team, unless evidence of obvious superior forces would put too many others at risk or if the mission would obviously fail. Contrast this mantra with his temporary replacement General Bauer, who sent a team into a very dangerous mission without proper information or appropriate backup in order to retrieve weapons grade naquadah (4.15 "Chain Reaction"). The times that he committed resources to save SGC personnel included: 1.18 "Solitudes", 2.15 "A Matter Of Time", 3.17 "A Hundred Days", 4.10 "Beneath The Surface", 4.18 "The Light", 4.08 "The First Ones", 5.08 "The Tomb", 6.08 "The Other Guys", 6.15 "Paradise Lost", 7.16 "Death Knell", and 7.17 "Heroes Part 1".

He personally oversaw the rescue of Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter when they were thrown through the second, previously unknown, Stargate in Antarctica (1.18 "Solitudes"). He approved a mission to discover the fate of an American lost fifty years ago through the Stargate even before hearing other military reasons for going (1.11 "The Torment Of Tantalus"). He acknowledged frustration at having to write a condolence letter to the family of a lieutenant who died in the line of duty without being able to tell them how he died or the work he did (4.18 "The Light"). He always wished he could do something more to honor the men and women who gave their lives under his command (7.18 "Heroes Part 2"). Perhaps the experience of losing his friend in Vietnam is what drove this particular passion (5.22 "Revelations").

Hammond as Action Hero

Hammond did not hesitate to sacrifice his job or his life if the lives of those in his command were on the line. When three members of SG-1 were caught in a Goa'uld stronghold along with several rescue teams, Hammond took it upon himself to go to Chulak and enlist Teal'c's help to rescue them (3.01 "Into the Fire Part 2"). When he had exhausted all official channels to extend the deadline to help Teal'c when the Jaffa was trapped in the Stargate wormhole, Hammond offered to step down as commander of the SGC if the resulting bureaucratic shuffling would give Major Carter enough time to save Teal'c (5.14 "48 Hours"). When commanding the Prometheus mission to Atlantis, he undertook a risky mission himself to retrieve power crystals from another damaged ship that held little life support, almost dying in the process (8.12 "Prometheus Unbound").

Although Hammond was a steady and cautious commander of the SGC, it is possible he was a bit of a thrill seeker in his youth. He was practically giddy when copiloting a Jaffa ship with Teal'c, letting out a full Texas "Yee-haw" (3.01 "Into the Fire Part 2"). He commented to O'Neill when the SGC was about to be mothballed for political and financial reasons, that he hoped for a "last brave act" before retiring and that he enjoyed this assignment because: "Well, let's face it. It was a pretty wild ride" (1.22 "Within the Serpent's Grasp Part 2"). In fact, he admitted once to Daniel that staying behind while placing others in danger was one of the hardest parts of his job (3.22 "Nemesis Part 1").

Family and Relationships

Family

Hammond is widowed, losing his wife to cancer three to four years before returning to Cheyenne Mountain to take over the Stargate project (1.19 "Tin Man"). He has at least one child and two granddaughters, Kayla and Tessa. His grandchildren lived either with him or near him when he was stationed in the Colorado Springs area. He is an active part of their lives, as his duties permit. One time, though he wanted to see them in a school play, he felt compelled to stay on base while Daniel Jackson was missing (3.21 "Crystal Skull"). When the NID tried to blackmail Hammond into leaving the SGC, the only tactic that finally made him balk was to threaten his granddaughters (4.15 "Chain Reaction"). Luckily, in that instance, Colonel O'Neill and Harry Maybourne were able to uncover evidence that allowed Hammond to return to his command without fear for the girls' safety. His grandchildren even had #1 speed dial status on his red telephone, above the President of the United States (6.12 "Unnatural Selection"). The only other family Hammond has mentioned was an uncle who was a wedding planner ("9.11 The Fourth Horseman Part 2").

Jacob Carter

One of Hammond's closest friends in the Air Force was Jacob Carter. Not much is known about their history, although it dates back to "the Cold War", before they both became generals (2.09 "Secrets"). More recent interactions implied a long-standing and deep friendship. They referred to each other by first name, and occasionally Hammond called the elder Carter "Jake" (2.11 "The Tok'ra Part 1"). Hammond personally notified Jacob when his daughter Samantha Carter was receiving the Air Force Medal, though security restrictions prevented him from explaining why (2.09 "Secrets"). Hammond offered to give Samantha Carter leave when he heard Jacob had moved nearby for cancer treatment, but Sam refused due to the unique nature of the particular mission for which only she could provide necessary intelligence (2.11 "The Tok'ra Part 1"). When Jacob took a dramatic turn for the worse, Hammond was the one Jacob notified. Against Jacob's wishes, when Jacob became critical, Hammond sent SG-3 to retrieve Captain Carter from the offworld mission to be by her father's side. This mission ended up saving Jacob's life by blending him with a Tok'ra symbiote (2.12 "The Tok'ra Part 2"). The half-alien nature of Jacob Carter did not curb the affection between the two men.

Relationships within the SGC

General Hammond many times referred to the staff and personnel of the SGC as "my people." He seemed to convey a paternal responsibility for all under his command. He took the implication that a member of the SGC could have betrayed the command personally (2.09 "Secrets", 3.18 "Shades of Grey"). He felt very strongly about never leaving a man behind. Though Hammond deferred to his expert staff, he was a very "hands on" commander. Many times he visited the science labs or infirmary to get first hand accounts on progress for current situations, especially in ascertaining the physical or emotional well-being of his personnel. Though one would not wish to accuse Hammond of playing favorites, he had a special bond with the flagship Stargate Team, SG-1. When SG-1 violated orders and went through the Stargate to try to prevent a shipbound Goa'uld attack on Earth, SG-2, led by Major Ferretti, volunteered to follow them. Hammond agreed, officially to bring SG-1 back for courts martial, unofficially to bring SG-1 home safe (1.22 "Within the Serpent's Grasp Part 1"). Hammond's affection for SG-1 did not prevent him from taking whatever action was necessary to protect the base, including quarantining and/or confining them if he believed they were under alien influence (1.19 "Tin Man", 3.16 "Urgo, 4.03 "Upgrades", 5.04 "The Fifth Man"). On his most recent visit to the SGC, his affection for the team was obvious, and he only regretted not being able to see Teal'c as well as Samantha and Daniel (9.11 "The Fourth Horseman Part 2").

Jack O'Neill

Although their initial meeting was almost adversarial, Hammond seemed to respect O'Neill from the beginning. There must have been something in O'Neill's file or Hammond's judgment of his character, because Hammond did not hesitate to reactivate O'Neill and put him in charge of the mission to Abydos (1.01 "Children of the Gods Part One"). Subsequently, he often relied on O'Neill's threat assessments and opinion regarding potential allies or missions, and he has a deep and cordial relationship with O'Neill. They seem to share the same code of honor. When O'Neill had to betray his team to go undercover and expose a rogue Earth group, Hammond backed him up and immediately explained the situation to SG-1 once the perpetrators were caught (3.18 "Shades of Grey"). Hammond made a point to comfort O'Neill when he believed that following Hammond's orders and meeting with a reporter with information on the Stargate program caused the reporter, Armin Selig, to be killed (2.09 "Secrets"). It is unclear whether Hammond truly believed the Air Force was not responsible for the reporter's death, or was trying to relieve Jack's guilt. The question of who killed Armin Selig has never been officially answered, though the NID has been implied (8.15 "Citizen Joe").

Hammond alternatively was exasperated and amused by O'Neill's often flippant demeanor. Many times he only mildly rebuked O'Neill for inappropriate comments, perhaps because O'Neill was merely verbalizing Hammond's own thoughts. Other times the rebuke was more serious, for example after O'Neill took the Orbanian girl Merrin off the base without permission (3.05 "Learning Curve"). O'Neill always treated Hammond with a great deal of respect. The two read each other so well that Jack could usually tell when to be serious and when he could get away with a more casual attitude. Hammond in turn knew when an extended explanation or only one word was necessary to rein in O'Neill. In less formal settings, Hammond often referred to O'Neill as "Jack", though O'Neill always referred to Hammond by rank. Even after O'Neill's promotion to Brigadier General and Hammond's request to call him "George", O'Neill could not help referring to Hammond as "General" or "sir" (8.04 "Zero Hour"). Given O'Neill's tendency for sarcasm when addressing equals or superiors he disdains, the way he addressed Hammond indicated how highly he regarded his commander. When his memory was erased, O'Neill still remembered Hammond as being a very important person in his life (though some argue he may have been remembering Homer Simpson) (4.10 "Beneath the Surface").

Jack O'Neill was the only member of SG-1 to have a visible off-base relationship with Hammond. When O'Neill once visited Hammond at his home, he approached Kayla and Tessa in the yard. The girls greeted him as if he was someone they knew well and liked a great deal (4.15 "Chain Reaction"). Yet, when O'Neill had the Ancients knowledge downloaded into his head a second time, the other members of SG-1 seemed shocked when Hammond arrived on O'Neill's doorstep (7.21 "Lost City Part 1"). However, this may have been due to thinking Hammond would remain on base during the crisis rather than any question of Hammond coming to O'Neill's house. Hammond has been known to keep O'Neill's focus on the mission at hand as well as help him through difficult times, like when O'Neill physically lashed out at Hammond's car after thinking Daniel was dead (1.13 "Fire And Water"). Although it is possible the others know about Hammond's personal life, O'Neill is the one who has revealed details of it, such as knowing the names of his grandchildren, how Hammond's wife died, and what Hammond was doing when Apollo 11 was launched (1.19 "Tin Man" and 2.21 "1969").

Daniel Jackson

Despite an awkward first encounter with the archeologist, Hammond showed a respect for the abilities of Doctor Daniel Jackson from the beginning, wanting his expertise within the SGC, even if originally he balked at allowing Jackson on a field unit. Daniel's decidedly civilian style and outlook on the military mindset sometimes tried General Hammond's patience, but it was rare, if ever, that he refused a request by the archeologist regarding a mission, even from the early days of the SGC. Hammond was often sympathetic to Daniel's humanitarian and/or moral concerns. One example was when Daniel expressed concerns at an alien race's request for heavy water. Hammond took it seriously and ordered further investigation into the aliens' motives (4.02 "The Other Side"). If Hammond had to reject Daniel's arguments, he usually gave a reason rather than just cutting him off.

Hammond's assignments to Daniel also showed his confidence in Daniel's abilities. He ordered Daniel to assist Major Davis in negotiating with the Russians for the use of their DHD (5.14 "48 Hours"). Daniel was also chief diplomat for several important offworld missions, such as negotiating treaties with the Tok'ra and Tollan, presumably both on Hammond's orders (referenced in 3.18 "Shades of Grey" and 7.21 "The Lost City Part 1", respectively). After Daniel's ascension, Hammond maintained his trust in Daniel Jackson's abilities. When O'Neill briefed Hammond and SG-1 on the dangers threatening Abydos, once Hammond discovered Daniel was the source of the information, that was "good enough" for him to approve the mission (6.22 "Full Circle"). After Daniel's "descension", even though his memory was not fully returned, Hammond allowed Daniel to remain at the classified briefing regarding Vis Uban and the Lost City of the Ancients (7.01 "Fallen Part 1"). His deep respect and trust in Daniel's knowledge and abilities was evidenced by him handpicking the archeologist to go on the follow up Prometheus mission he was commanding to Atlantis (8.12 "Prometheus Unbound").

Hammond grew to have a paternalistic attitude towards the younger man. When not in a formal setting, Hammond often referred to Daniel as "son". He was deeply affected the first time they thought Daniel had died (1.13 "Fire and Water"). When an alien device made Daniel unseen and unheard to others on base, he overheard Hammond explaining to his granddaughter that he couldn't see her school play because a "very good friend" was lost (3.21 "Crystal Skull"). When Daniel was dealing with issues with his own grandfather, this conversation showed Daniel both how close Hammond was to his grandchildren, and how much Daniel meant to the general. Daniel, in turn, also has a deep respect and affection for Hammond. When Hammond's replacement at the SGC, Dr. Elizabeth Weir, complained about a cool welcome from the military establishment, Daniel countered: "You're replacing a great man, uniform notwithstanding" (7.21 "Lost City Part 1"). When Daniel ascended/died from radiation poisoning, Hammond stood vigil at his bedside (5.21 "Meridian"). His affection for Daniel did not supercede his concern for his people, and he would not risk the lives of other men when he received a report while Daniel was suffering of a sarcophagus at a heavily guarded Goa'uld stronghold. Hammond was as pleased as anyone to see the archeologist again when Stargate teams found the amnesiac Daniel alive on Vis Uban (7.01 "Fallen Part 1").

Samantha Carter

There have been references that Gen. Hammond had some influence on Samantha Carter's work on the Stargate project when she was still at the Pentagon, after the initial Abydos mission (2.21 "1969"). Also, the close friendship of Hammond and her father implies that Sam Carter had at least been aware of Hammond prior to being stationed at the SGC. Hammond indicated that he was the one who decided to transfer her from the Pentagon to be a part of the field team through the Stargate (1.01 "Children of the Gods Part 1"). Furthermore, like the rest of SG-1, Hammond was aware of Samantha from his prior meeting with her in 1969 (2.21 "1969"). Despite these close ties, as with the rest of SG-1, Hammond never shirked putting his responsibilities for the safety of the base first when Carter was under alien influence (2.02 "In the Line of Duty", 4.20 "Entity"). Unlike with Daniel or Teal'c, whose civilian status allowed more leeway, Hammond's outward relationship to Samantha Carter was one of a proper military superior to subordinate officer. However, an underlying affection for the daughter of one of his closest friends was apparent. He referred to her as "Sam" when discussing her father's health (2.11 "The Tok'ra Part 1"). He comforted her after both Daniel's and Janet's deaths, and she expressed concern at how he was handling the loss of Janet himself (5.22 "Revelations", 7.18 "Heroes Part 2"). When Hammond first retired, Carter embraced him and was visibly upset that he was leaving the SGC (4.15 "Chain Reaction").

Like with Daniel, Hammond gave Carter a lot of leeway when it came to explaining or applying her theories. He never forgot that her efforts helped create the gate dialing program. He indicated his respect for her abilities when he first introduced her to Colonel O'Neill: "Which means she is smarter than you are, Colonel" (1.01 "Children of the Gods Part 1"). He highly praised Carter's knowledge and experience with the Stargate and alien technology (5.14 "48 Hours"). Because of her experience and competence, if she suggested a course of action, Hammond's order was usually "do it."

Despite his deep respect for Carter's abilities, he did not give her free rein. If another scientist or technician offered a counter argument, he gave due weight to their opinion (Carter countering her own theory in 2.07 "Message in a Bottle", McKay in 5.14 "48 Hours", Lee in 6.15 "Paradise Lost"). He expected Carter to give an honest evaluation of whether alternative theories would work, and Carter accepted that responsibility, arguing the strengths and weaknesses of both ideas. Because of his trust in her judgment, Carter convinced Hammond to allow an Air Force cadet access to the SGC because of her potential as a candidate (4.19 "Prodigy"). Despite reservations about Felger, he was swayed by Carter's support of the scientist and had them work together on a computer virus program, which led to disastrous results for the entire network before the two scientists fixed Ba'al's tinkering (7.09 "Avenger 2.0"). Even with the best minds in the Pentagon working on theories regarding the black hole effecting the Stargate, when Carter presented a reasonable alternative theory, Hammond accepted her proposals (2.15 "A Matter of Time"). Overall he trusted Carter's knowledge and experience enough to defer to her expertise when the situation warranted it.

Teal'c

Hammond's relationship to Teal'c changed the most over the years out of any of the SG-1 members. He first viewed Teal'c as the enemy. Hammond did not appear to mind when the Pentagon wanted to question then later remove the Jaffa from the base for study (1.03 "The Enemy Within"). However, Teal'c's actions in trying to save Kawalsky, and later single-handedly saving the base proved to Hammond that Teal'c's motives to assist the "Tau'ri" were genuine, and he intervened on Teal'c's behalf with the President.

The most stark example of Hammond's change in attitude towards Teal'c was his different reaction to two times when the Jaffa's life was in danger. The first was an early mission, when a planet's population put Teal'c on trial for his actions as a member of Apophis's guard (1.16 "Cor-Ai"). O'Neill requested back-up to rescue Teal'c, by force if necessary. Hammond would not permit it, since the people had a valid claim against Teal'c's previous "war crimes." O'Neill gave Teal'c's life equal value as a member of his team, and though Hammond personally agreed with O'Neill, he was sympathetic to the Pentagon's position that Teal'c was not "one of us." A few years later, Teal'c became trapped in transit within the wormhole (5.14 "48 Hours"). Colonel Simmons used an eerily similar argument to what Hammond said to O'Neill years earlier, explaining that Teal'c was not one of our own. Hammond showed he had come full circle by immediately countering that Teal'c indeed was as valued a member as any Earth-born member of his command. He even offered to retire if his actions would give Carter enough time to save the Jaffa.

That's not to say his relationship with Teal'c didn't have its fits and starts. The first time Teal'c was allowed off base for an incident, Hammond had to order Teal'c to leave his weapon behind (1.07 "Cold Lazarus"). Through gentle sternness and respect, Teal'c complied with the order. Just when he was starting to trust the alien, he discovered Teal'c had a family back on Chulak (1.12 "Bloodlines"). Hammond became very angry that Teal'c had not revealed this earlier, but by this point, had been won over by Teal'c's loyalty and the bond of SG-1 and so approved a mission to save Teal'c's son. Since Hammond had consistently refused this mission earlier due to its extreme risks, the only rationale for approving the mission was his personal regard and sympathy for Teal'c and his situation. Later, when Apophis brainwashed Teal'c and made him think he was still loyal to the Goa'uld, Hammond remained patient and took whatever action necessary to help Teal'c break through the mental conditioning (5.02 "Threshold"). At another time, Teal'c was AWOL and under alien influence, but Hammond did everything possible to get Teal'c back and circumvent the NID (2.10 "Bane").

Hammond grew to greatly respect Teal'c and become as concerned for his health and well being as he was for any of the other members of SG-1. Despite his warrior background, Teal'c is non-military, and so Hammond addressed him less formally on occasion, referring to him as "son," an amusing irony since due to the long life spans of Jaffa, Teal'c is actually decades older than Hammond. Hammond tried to be respectful and understanding of Teal'c's different culture. Hammond came to recognize Teal'c's word (or nod) as a vow. When O'Neill appeared to have stolen from the Tollan, Hammond made Teal'c act as his guard, fully trusting that his explanation that Teal'c should no longer follow O'Neill's orders would be accepted and adhered to, despite the close bond between the two men (3.18 "Shades of Grey"). Like the others of SG-1, Hammond values Teal'c's opinion, especially in analysis of Goa'uld motives or alien technologies. For example, when they discovered Samantha had been taken over by Jolinar, Hammond requested Teal'c assist in searching the base for signs of Goa'uld sabotage (2.02 "In The Line Of Duty"). Also he requested Teal'c act as liason to the Goa'uld when they came to Earth for a summit; however, he respected Teal'c's request to not act in that capacity and permitted Dr. Jackson to volunteer for that responsibility instead (3.03 "Fair Game").

Janet Fraiser

One of the only people who could override General Hammond's authority in Cheyenne Mountain, at least with health issues, was the Chief Medical Officer (4.20 "Entity"). For almost seven years, the CMO was Captain/Major Janet Fraiser. From the first alien infection to come onto the base, Hammond has deferred to the medical experts (1.03 "The Enemy Within"), but seemed particularly respectful of Fraiser's authority and knowledge from the first crisis she was in charge of, the virus from the "Land of Light" (1.05 "The Broca Divide").

Their relationship was always very respectful and professional. Hammond always referred to Janet by her medical title of Doctor rather than her rank, treating her more as a peer than a subordinate. Many times Fraiser would report events (often regarding SG-1) directly to Hammond in his office, if he did not come to her in the infirmary first. Upon Janet Fraiser's death, he admitted that even though he reminded himself that each man and woman under his command was special and equally valuable, but "you get closer to some people" (7.18 "Heroes Part 2").

Related Characters

• Col. Jack O'Neill
• Dr. Daniel Jackson
• Major Samantha Carter
• Teal'c
• Dr. Janet Fraiser
• Gen. Hank Landry
• Kayla
• Tessa
• Anubis
• Apophis
• Ba'al
• Gen. Bauer
• Bra'tac
• Jacob Carter
• Maj. Davis
• Henry Hayes
• Senator Kinsey
• Dr. Bill Lee
• Harry Maybourne
• Dr. Rodney McKay
• Armin Selig
• Frank Simmons
• Dr. Elizabeth Weir
• Richard Woolsey

Related Articles

• Abydos
• Alternate Realities
• Alternate Timelines
• Antarctica
• Asgard
• Daedalus-Class Ship
• GDO
• Homeworld Security
• International Oversight Advisory (IOA)
• Lost City of the Ancients
• NID
• NORAD
• Prometheus
• Prometheus Crew
• Stargate Command (SGC)
• Stargate Program
• Stargate Program Disclosure
• Tok'ra
• Tollan
• USS General Hammond

Key Episodes

• 1.01 "Children Of The Gods Part 1"
• 1.02 "Children Of The Gods Part 2"
• 1.05 "The Broca Divide"
• 1.14 "Hathor"
• 1.21 "Politics"
• 2.01 "The Serpent's Lair Part 2"
• 2.03 "Prisoners"
• 2.08 "Family"
• 2.09 "Secrets"
• 2.21 "1969"
• 3.01 "Into The Fire Part 2"
• 3.14 "Foothold"
• 3.21 "Crystal Skull"
• 4.15 "Chain Reaction"
• 5.14 "48 Hours"
• 5.21 "Meridian"
• 5.22 "Revelations"
• 7.18 "Heroes Part 2"
• 7.21 "Lost City Part 1"
• 7.22 "Lost City Part 2"
• 8.12 "Prometheus Unbound"
• 9.10 "The Fourth Horseman Part 1"
• 9.11 "The Fourth Horseman Part 2"
• 5.20 "Enemy At The Gate"

Related Links

• Official MGM Biography
• SciFi.com Bio of Gen. George Hammond

Actors

• Aaron Pearl as Lt. George Hammond (2.21 "1969")
• Don S. Davis as Gen. George Hammond

Written by Aurora Novarum

--Michelle 15:14, 1 Oct 2005 (PDT)