Cogon was a human male who, up until a few years before the Battle of Yavin, functioned as an officer within the ranks of the Galactic Empire, at which point he deserted. He and Swain, another deserter, absconded with a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle from the planet Lothal and then sought refuge on the planet Thrad. Cogon and his fellow escapee intended to link up with a rebel cell located on the planet Klonoid; however, before they could reach their destination, they were apprehended on Thrad by Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau.