Niles Gavla was a lieutenant in the service of the Galactic Empire, a male human. He was stationed on Scarif where he acted as the administrative support liaison on the planet's surface for the defenses officer located on the Death Star. During the destruction of Jedha City, Gavla was present on the Overbridge of the Death Star, accompanied by fellow Imperial officers such as Wilhuff Tarkin (Grand Moff), Orson Callan Krennic (Director of Advanced Weapons Research), Hurst Romodi (General), and Dunstig Pterro (Captain), among others. Gavla was positioned behind Tarkin as the Grand Moff offered his applause for Director Krennic's achievement in making the battle station operational. Gavla met his death at the conclusion of the Battle of Scarif when the Death Star fired upon the Imperial Center of Military Research on Scarif. He was an alumnus of the Imperial Carida Academy.
Gavla made his debut in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the 2016 anthology film directed by Gareth Edwards. He was portrayed by an uncredited extra. His identity was confirmed by Pablo Hidalgo in the reference book Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide.