Wheeler, an Imperial cadet, was a member of the Galactic Empire and a student at the Academy for Young Imperials on Lothal. He distinguished himself as one of the top three cadets during the initial training drill at the Well, sharing this honor with cadets de Grom and Kell. This accomplishment earned each of them a reward: an additional dessert portion and some free time.
Jason Fry introduced Wheeler in his 2015 young adult novel, Servants of the Empire: Rebel in the Ranks. The character's moniker originated from Zack Wheeler, a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets.