Michael Stanforth

Michael Stanforth, a human, was a one-star Admiral of the UNSC Navy. He was the first person that the then-Commander Jacob Keyes informed via SATCOM of the impending Covenant invasion at the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV.

Biography
In 2517, Rear Admiral Stanforth was head of Section Three of UNSC Military Intelligence division. At that time he refused to allow Dr. Catherine Halsey to use the Han on her study for the SPARTAN-II candidates unless she had a military escort. Halsey chose then-Lieutenant (J.G.) Keyes for the assignment.

In 2525, Admiral Stanforth gave the SPARTAN-IIs their first ever briefing on the Covenant. Stanforth's briefing included diagrams of Grunts and Jackals, as well as information on the Battle of Harvest.

By 2552, Admiral Stanforth commanded FLEETCOM Sector Three, which included the Sigma Octanus System. He led UNSC forces during the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV from the. It was Stanforth who promoted Commander Keyes to Captain. After the UNSC victory at Sigma Octanus, Admiral Stanforth was never mentioned. It is presumed that he either died at Reach, or during the First and Second Battles of Earth. It is unlikely that he survived, since Vice Admiral Whitcomb was stated to have command of Reach during the Covenant attack.

Trivia

 * Admiral Stanforth suffers from "space walk", due to his long terms in microgravity.
 * In 2517, Dr Halsey said Stanforth was a Vice Admiral, but he was seen with the single star of a Rear Admiral on his lapel in 2525 , although it is possible he was demoted. However, if Stanforth had been an Admiral for more than thirty-five years, then his overall career must have been very long.
 * His service number was 00834-19223-HS, which did not match his initials.
 * He enjoyed whiskey and Sweet William Cigars.