Dessard, an Imperial commandant, served during the Galactic Civil War. He was stationed at a labor camp where enslaved Wookiee children were held during the liberation of Kashyyyk. When the Wookiee slave Lumpawaroo made his escape, Dessard and his troops pursued him. However, they unexpectedly encountered a group of adult Wookiees alongside New Republic soldiers. Dessard's unit was wiped out, and Dessard himself was captured by Chewbacca, Waroo's father.
In 5 ABY, Dessard held the position of commandant for the Galactic Empire at a Wookiee child slave labor camp situated on the slopes of Mount Arayakyak on the planet Kashyyyk. He maintained strict control over the enslaved Wookiee children. Before the liberation of Kashyyyk, Dessard utilized inhibitor chips to control the enslaved Wookiees. These chips inflicted intense pain upon the Wookiees if they disobeyed or attempted to flee. The Wookiees, including Lumpawaroo, referred to Dessard and his men as rrraugrah, which translated to "milk-skins." After Han Solo and Chewbacca led a team of New Republic operatives and Wookiee rebels to disable the inhibitors and overthrow Grand Moff Lozen Tolruck's authority, Dessard's camp remained as one of the final Imperial strongholds on Kashyyyk.
Dessard and his forces briefly regained authority over the Wookiee children, employing chains, collars, shock-lances, and blasters. However, news of the Imperial defeat significantly impacted Dessard and his troops. They frequently argued and neglected their hygiene. One day, Lumpawaroo successfully escaped before Dessard could secure the pylon-gate. Determined to prevent any slaves or his men from leaving the camp, Dessard and his soldiers pursued him.
Waroo traversed the deteriorating trees of Mount Arayakyak, but fell after hitting a spore-pod. Dessard and his troops surrounded Waroo. Intent on setting an example, Dessard gave the order to execute the Wookiee slave. However, adult Wookiees and New Republic soldiers then opened fire, eliminating Dessard's men. The situation reversed, Dessard crawled forward and kneeled before Waroo. Chewbacca, one of the Wookiees and Waroo's father, then used a tree trunk to force Dessard to the ground. While New Republic soldiers placed Dessard under arrest, Waroo was reunited with his father.
Dessard was a cruel, diminutive human man characterized by a greasy, dark peak of hair. Following the Liberation of Kashyyyk, he wore a soiled gray officer's uniform. Dessard was notorious for his cruelty towards the Wookiee child slaves under his command, employing tools such as inhibitor chips, chains, collars, shock-lances, and blasters to maintain control. The news of Kashyyyk's liberation deeply affected Dessard and his men. Refusing to accept defeat, Dessard was determined to prevent any of his men or the Wookiee slaves from escaping his camp, even if it meant killing them. Facing overwhelming odds, Dessard made the sensible decision to surrender to the Wookiee and New Republic forces.
Dessard is a supporting villain in Chuck Wendig's 2017 novel Aftermath: Empire's End, which concludes The Aftermath Trilogy. He is featured in the brief interlude chapter set on Kashyyyk, presented from the perspective of Lumpawaroo, Chewbacca's son.