Ruthford, a captain in the stormtrooper corps, was a human male who fought for the First Order as it rise. He was part of the new generation of stormtroopers. Having previously served the Galactic Empire, this veteran, Ruthford, chose to wear his original stormtrooper armor, rather than the newer version favored by the younger troopers. Because of his past experience with the local species while under the command of Sith Lord Darth Vader, he went with Kylo Ren to the planet Benath. Ruthford observed Ren slay a Zillo Beast during the battle, which resulted in the surrender of the remaining Benathy to the First Order warlord.