Being born to a wealthy family in the Empire comes with many advantages. The Byrd family has many trade and manufacturing holdings, and is well connected in the senate, which mean its numerous heirs are free to pursue politics, business, or leisure to their hearts' content. Official enlistment in the military is discouraged by the family's leaders, but a number of them work closely as agents or contractors for the Imperial Navy or branches of the Imperial government.
CMDR L. Byrd has been fascinated with piloting since his first childhood exposure to remote-piloting small scale Imperial fighters. As an adult, he joined the Pilot's Federation and spends more time in space tracking down wanted criminals or delivering supplies to the Navy than managing his branch of the family business. So far, he has evaded censure for this.