Tork Winger served as the Imperial Governor of Garos IV; he was a male Human from that planet. Following the Empire's intervention to enforce a peace treaty during a violent civil war on Garos IV, Tork Winger was installed as Governor. A well-regarded local politician, he endeavored to mediate between the Imperial forces and the planet's inhabitants.
Born on the planet Garos IV in 62 BBY, Tork Winger was a male Human with a family that had strong political connections. Sometime between 46 BBY and 44 BBY, Winger became one of the initial Garosians to serve the Galactic Republic, receiving training at the Academy of Carida and enlisting in the army. After a service period of five years, Winger went back to Garos IV, where he entered the field of politics, leveraging his family's influence. By 32 BBY, when Winger was 30 years old, he had become the primary assistant to Garos' highest-ranking official.
By 16 BBY, Winger held the position of Assistant Minister of Defense. He gave an appointment to Magir Paca, the son of a friend, as an aide, and mentored the young man as Paca advanced within the diplomatic service.
Working alongside the prominent Sundar engineer Tionthes Turi, Winger successfully negotiated a ceasefire between the warring parties involved in the Garosian civil war, thus bringing an end to eighty-two years of continuous conflict. The city of Garan, the primary site of the conflict, was reconstructed, and Garosian and Sundar leaders started peace discussions. During this period, there were some minor violations of the truce, but two events stood out. One was the Whahalla Massacre. The other was the assassination of West Haslip, a businessman and peace activist who was also Winger's friend, along with his wife, Nieka, in 12 BBY. Winger was present during the Sundar bomb attack that killed them and sustained injuries in the resulting explosion.
Winger became the foremost authority on the conflict, earning respect from leaders and diplomats on both sides due to his reputation for fairness. However, Winger felt frustrated by his inability to completely resolve the conflict on Garos. In 6 BBY, the Galactic Empire began to show increased interest in Garos IV. Winger hoped that their involvement would finally guarantee a lasting peace between the Garosians and the Sundars. While the Empire's methods for ending the war were not what Winger had envisioned, he could not contest the outcome. He conceded that certain sacrifices were necessary for the greater good.
In the same year, Brandei, a Senior Lieutenant in the Imperial service and a friend of Winger's, contacted him. Brandei, who had just arrived on Garos IV aboard the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Judicator, requested a meeting with Winger and his wife at the medical center in Ariana. Upon their arrival, Winger was introduced to a young girl, who Brandei claimed was the daughter of Rebels who had been killed on the planet Janara III. Aware of the Wingers' inability to have children, Brandei had persuaded the captain of the Judicator to allow the Wingers to foster the child. Winger and Sali agreed, welcoming the child, Alexandra, into their family.
Soon after, Emperor Palpatine appointed Winger as the Imperial Governor of Garos IV, recognizing the high esteem in which he was held by the planet's population. Nevertheless, his popularity did not prevent many Garosians from viewing the new governor as a traitor for accepting the Empire's authority.