Charles Vance
Fleet Admiral Charles Vance was a 32nd century Human Starfleet officer. During the 3180s, he served as commander in chief of Starfleet.

Early life 
During his younger years, Vance never listened to advice despite being  and inexperienced and would make a lot of bad calls. () 

Eventually, Vance married his wife and the two had a daughter. Vance's wife and daughter lived at Federation Headquarters for a time before Vance realized that it was too dangerous for them to live there. Vance stayed on the station, while his wife and daughter left for parts unknown. ()

Starfleet career

Emerald Chain threat 
Vance met with the crew of the  soon after they emerged in the year 3189. ()

Shortly thereafter, he met with Captains Bandra, L'Teis Kardashev, Rahma and Saru and handled out assignments. He tasked Bandra and the  with the two month supply run to Na'Seth, Kardashev with supplying shields to Reilling VII as they were dealing with solar flares, and Rahma with resupplying Kaijur XII with Replicator replacement technology as they were experiencing a food shortage. 

After the  returned to Federation Headquarters, He ordered his chief of security, Lieutenant Audrey Willa, to commence a baryon sweep after the crew had cleared the ship. 

Upon Michael Burnham's return from her rogue mission to rescue Cleveland Booker, he left it to Captain Saru to decide what disciplinary actions she would face. ()

When presented with Burnham and Sylvia Tilly's new findings about the Burn, he informed Burnham and Saru that the data they required to verify their findings could only be obtained from Ni'Var, the planet formerly known as Vulcan. He also informed them that Ni'Var was now home to both the Vulcans and Romulans, but had seceded from the United Federation of Planets as they believed the Federation had pushed them into developing dilithium replacement technology which had ultimately been the cause of the Burn itself. Vance decided to send Burnham as the Federation's representative to Ni'Var due to her relationship with her late brother, Ambassador Spock.  He saw her as the only person who could re-open negotiations with Ni'Var.  Vance sent a message to Ni'Var telling them of Discoverys spore drive, its jump to the future and Spock's sister. ()

Following Discoverys mission to Ni'Var, Vance agreed to allow Discovery to take Booker back to his homeworld of  and for its crew to act as observers. When a cure for Commander Georgiou's condition was found on Dannus V, Vance allowed Discovery to take her there to help. Following Georgiou's departure, Vance spoke with Saru about allowing Booker to use Emerald Chain technology aboard Discovery and cautioned him about Osyraa's desperation for dilithium. He also saw that Saru was distracted by the 's Kelpien crew. Vance was then informed by Saru and Burnham about Theta Zeta as a planet made of dilithium and being ground zero for the burn. He asked if the survivor of the Khi'eth could have been involved. Saru did not believe so. Vance also said that several Chain ships were conducting military exercises near Kaminar and that he had to send part of the fleet to Saru's homeworld. Vance said that the fleet would protect Kaminar, and ordered Saru to find the survivor. ()

Vance was forced into negotiations when Minister Osyraa hijacked the Discovery and got through Federation Headquarters' distortion field. Vance was given permission by the Federation President to conduct the negotiations with Osyraa. Vance was surprised when Osyraa offered an armistice between the Federation and the Chain that would bring peace between their organizations. However, Vance rejected the armistice due to the fact that the Emerald Chain's representative would merely be a puppet for Osyraa and she would not stand trial for her actions. Upon Osyraa's return to Discovery, Vance ordered the  and the fleet to open fire on Discovery to prevent Osyraa from escaping. Vance also ordered Paul Stamets, despite his objections, to the Foresight to prevent Osyraa from using Discoverys spore drive. ()

Vance was then informed that Ni'Var had sent a fleet to assist. He was then contacted by Osyraa and Burnham, who asked Vance to let them go. Vance was hesitant at first but went along with Burnham's request. He then sent the Federation and Ni'Var fleet to pursue Discovery to Base 755. Following the destruction of the Viridian, Vance met with Aditya Sahil and gave him a commission as a lieutenant. He also promoted Burnham, on his and Saru's recommendation, to Captain. ()

Species 10-C threat 
In 3190, Vance was reunited with his wife and daughter for the unveiling of Archer Spacedock. He gave them a tour. Vance then sent Discovery to render aid in response to Deep Space Repair Beta Six's distress call. He also allowed President Laira Rillak to accompany Discoverys crew on the mission. ()

Shorly after the destruction of , Vance offered command of the  to Captain Saru who had returned to Starfleet but the he turned Vance down. ()

Vance then authorized a joint mission between the Qowat Milat under Dr. Gabrielle Burnham and an away team under Captain Burnham to apprehend rogue Qowat Milat sister J'Vini for the murder of 's XO, Commander Patrick Fickett. Upon J'Vini's surrender to Captain Burnham and Doctor Burnham, Vance supported Rillak's choice to extradite J'Vini back to Ni'Var. ()

Admiral Vance would later task Doctor Kovich with a time-sensitive assignment regarding the artificial intelligence Zora. ()

When the DMA threatened United Earth and Titan and Ni'Var, Vance brought Federation Headquarters and all of the ships that he could muster to evacuate the planets while using Headquarters' shields to buy Earth more time. Vance eventually ordered the crew to abandon ship to the  and all of the ships to leave while Vance himself remained behind to give the ships as much time as he could. Vance was joined by Sylvia Tilly and the two shared a drink while they waited for the end, discussing their lives and regrets, particularly Vance's regret that he wasn't there for his daughter more. Tilly reassured Vance that his daughter loved him and the two watched in amazement as the DMA disappeared, Discoverys first contact mission having been successful.

In the aftermath, Vance joined the crew in celebrating and began spending more time with his family. ()

Ailments and injuries  
During the negotiations between Ni'var and the Federation, Vance had mysteriously fallen ill with a Malindian stomach worm. Although Captains Saru and Burnham believed it to be a ruse. (

Memorable quotes  
"The safety and security of whatever's left of the Federation must take priority over everything else."
- Charles Vance to Saru and Michael Burnham ()

"I never listened to advice when I was green, but take it from an old salt who's made a lot of bad calls in his day. A crew member is drowning. If we let her, then your crew will never look at you, or the Federation the same way again. And you will never look at yourself the same way either."
- Vance, to Saru ()

"The past is the only light with which we can see the future."
- Charles Vance to Osyraa ()

Appendices

Appearances  
 
 (DIS Season 3)

 (DIS Season 4)

Background information 
Charles Vance was played by Oded Fehr.

External link 
 

Humans
Starfleet command personnel
Starfleet personnel (32nd century)
Starfleet flag officers