Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb appeared in Halo: First Strike. He was the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations and his accomplishments during the Battle for New Constantinople and the Siege of the Atlas Moons were well-known.
Every SPARTAN-II had studied his record. Stuck on Reach during the Battle for Reach, he was extracted by Spartan forces. He died after the First Strike mission, while using the captured flagship Ascendant Justice in luring Covenant starships towards the Unyielding Hierophant in an attempt to maximise Covenant losses.