Richard Galen

Richard Galen was a human scientist and researcher specializing in the fields of archeology, paleontology, and anthropology.

For a time in the 2320s, Galen taught various classes at Starfleet Academy and taught future starship captains Donald Varley and Jean-Luc Picard as cadets. Galen developed strong relationships with both men and encouraged Picard to pursue archeology and the sciences as the focus of his career. Ultimately however, Picard kept to his original ambition of eventually commanding a starship and pursued a career track that reflected that goal. (TNG: The Chase)

In 2339, Galen was serving as an advisor to the Federation Science Council when a colleague from the Daystrom Institute, Dr. Ramsey, approached Galen and enlisted his help in arranging an expedition to an archeological site on a planet inside Klingon space. Galen used his reputation and influence with the Science Council and the Diplomatic Corps to arrange the expedition, leading the ultimate expedition himself at the Council's insistence. (1.8: Boats Against the Current)

In an alternate timeline, Picard and Galen would last speak in the year 2339, presumably as part of the events of Boats Against the Current''. In the TNG continuity, they had no contact between 2339 and the events of The Chase in 2369.''