His father is Starfleet Admiral Kyle Riker; his mother died when he was two years old. He was raised by his father, until he abandoned him at age 15. Riker enjoys old Earth jazz music, plays the trombone, and enjoys poker and cooking. In 2356, Lt. Riker was commended for exceptional valor during a rescue mission on Nervala IV. He was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant Commander. However, a transporter malfunction caused a 2nd image of Lt. Riker to materialize on the planet surface, where he remained trapped until the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D returned in 2369. The Lt. Riker and Cdmr. Riker had trouble getting along, but eventually worked things out. Lt. Riker took their middle name, Thomas.

Starfleet History
Decorated five times.
2349-2353 Attended Starfleet Academy. Graduated eighth in class.
2354 Posted to U.S.S. Pegasus NCC-34182, Ensign, Flight Controller.
2354 Promoted to Lieutenant.
2354 Stationed on Federation planet Betazed after U.S.S. Pegasus NCC-34182, commanded by Erik Pressman, was presumed destroyed by a warp core breach. (The Pegasus was later found inside Asteroid Gamma 6-0-1 in the Devolin System in 2370.)
2355 Posted to U.S.S. Potemkin NCC-8253.
2356 Promoted to Lt. Commander and commended for exceptional valor during rescue mission on Nervala IV. A transporter malfunction caused a 2nd image of Lt. Riker to materialize on the surface.
2360 Posted to U.S.S. Hood NCC-42296 as Executive Officer.
2364 Promoted to Commander.
2364 Offered command of U.S.S. Drake NCC-20381. Declined.
2364 Posted to U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D as Executive Officer.
2365 Participated in Officer Exchange Program. Became first Starfleet officer to serve aboard a Klingon vessel, as first officer of Klingon cruiser I.K.C. P'agh.
2365 Offered command of U.S.S. Aries NCC-45167, declined.
2366 Charged with murder of Dr. Nel Apgar. Charges were dropped after new evidence was produced.
2366 Offered command of U.S.S. Melbourne NCC-62043, declined.
2366 Temporary field promotion to captain of U.S.S. Enterprise when Captain Picard was abducted by the Borg.
2370 The U.S.S. Pegasus was found inside Asteroid Gamma 6-0-1 in the Devolin System. It contained an illegal prototype phased-cloaking device. Riker notified Captain Picard of the cloaking device. Charges against Riker were later dropped.
2371 U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D was destroyed at Veridian III.
2372 Posted to Sovereign-class U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E.
2373 U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E succeeded in stopping the Borg's temporal incursion. Assisted in rebuilding Zefram Cochrane's warp ship, The Phoenix.

William T. Riker was first seen in "Encounter at Farpoint" (TNG).