Jeffrey Wilder is the captain of the Macross Quarter, the flagship of the private military organization Strategic Military Services, known as S.M.S. A seasoned veteran, he has a weathered appearance marked by a beard and a horizontal scar across his face, evidence of his long history of active combat. Before his time with S.M.S., he served as a soldier and Valkyrie pilot for the U.N. Spacy, where he lost an arm in the line of duty, and additionally acted as a base commander who was a superior to a young Ozma Lee during a substitute pilot assignment.

Despite his gruff and stern demeanor on the bridge, Wilder possesses a more humorous and easygoing personality that harkens back to his days as an avid surfer before his military career. He has a deep love for life and regularly keeps his own enthusiasm in check for the sake of professionalism and the well-being of his crew. He is deeply committed to his responsibilities as a captain and demonstrates unparalleled skill in tactical warfare, caring for his subordinates and entrusting them to carry out difficult missions. He was single for a long period after his wife left him for another man.

As a former officer of the U.N. Spacy now commanding a private military group, Wilder harbors a resentment for meddling from the Frontier government. This is most evident in his initial distrust of Catherine Glass, the daughter of President Howard Glass, when she is assigned to observe a crucial mission. However, his opinion softens as he comes to respect her for her own character, which he finds different from her father's. He is a capable commander who leads S.M.S. forces in engagements against the alien Vajra, but finds himself increasingly at odds with political figures like the would-be rebel Leon Mishima as the series progresses.

Wilder’s motivations are rooted in a personal sense of justice and truth rather than strict adherence to authority. Upon learning the truth about President Glass's assassination and the machinations of Leon Mishima, and after receiving orders to disband S.M.S. into the New U.N. Spacy, he declares his crew are now pirates in the service of justice. He successfully convinces his subordinates to follow him, detaching the Macross Quarter from the Frontier fleet to investigate the truth behind the Vajra attacks. Uncovering the conspiracy by Grace O'Connor, he files a report with the Earth government and leads his ship to the Vajra homeworld to stop the conflict, presenting evidence against the conspirators and helping to destroy the Battle Galaxy. He commands the Macross Quarter in the final battle, even performing a daring "surfing" maneuver with the ship through a planet's atmosphere.

Key relationships define his interactions. He develops a mutual respect with N.U.N.S. officer Catherine Glass, moving from distrust to cooperation. He shares a close working relationship with his trusted helmsman, Bobby Margot. A significant personal arc involves his bridge communications officer, Monica Lang. In the television series, Monica reveals a crush on him to fellow officers. In the film adaptation, this is explored further, leading to Wilder acknowledging and reciprocating her feelings. He asks Monica to stand with him when he goes to confront the enemy, and by the end, he is seen with her at his side, having accepted her as a partner.

As a former pilot, Wilder is knowledgeable about variable fighters, having experience flying multiple types in his youth. His primary ability lies in command, where his tactical skill and experience allow him to make crucial decisions during warfare. Notably, he lost an arm in past combat, a physical reminder of his years of service.