Yurib Nakan served as a flight instructor for the Galactic Empire at Carida Academy; he was a male human. He oversaw the training of cadets who were training to be TIE fighter pilots, including Han Solo, who would later become a General in the Rebel Alliance. Nakan commanded the fighter wing during the mission on Qhulosk, leading them into combat. He met with Beilert Valance, one of his cadets who had been severely injured and reassigned to the infantry before being discharged, and told him that he was fortunate to be able to retire, something few others could do. Nakan was still working at Carida Academy sometime after the Battle of Hoth. A few days prior to the Battle of Endor, he issued transfer orders to Bansu Ro and Rac Syrmo, his two best cadets, informing them that the Imperial Navy was activating their entire class for full military duty.
Yurib Nakan's initial appearance was in the comic Han Solo - Imperial Cadet 1, although he was only seen in a starfighter. This comic was penned by Robbie Thompson, with illustrations by Leonard Kirk, and it was released by Marvel Comics on November 7, 2018. Nakan made a physical appearance, and his first name was revealed, in the following issue, which was also written by Thompson, illustrated by Kirk, and published on December 12, 2018. The character's last name was revealed in the series' fifth issue, which was written by Thompson, illustrated by Kirk, and published on March 13, 2019.