Dan is a military pilot defending his homeworld, Gradius, against the Bacterian threat. He operates as part of a crucial trio alongside fellow pilots Stephanie McBain and Eddie Evans, confronting extraterrestrial dangers.

Investigating a derelict spacecraft during the first Bacterian incursion, Dan encounters survivor Paula. He reacts with skepticism to her warnings, contrasting Eddie's immediate trust. Their actions inadvertently remove a protective obelisk on Gradius, enabling the Bacterian invasion.

Responding to Priest Doromo's request, Dan travels to the embattled planet Latis to aid Lord British against the Bacterians. Historical tensions between Gradius and Latis, combined with Lord British's initial reluctance to accept counsel, create friction. Dan persistently advocates strategic solutions after Lord British's costly direct assault fails.

Piloting his craft deep into the organic fortress planet Salamander's core alongside Stephanie and Lord British, Dan battles the internal dragon entity. Following Eddie's sacrificial destruction of the dragon from within, Dan contributes to eliminating the Bacterian control center. In a separate conflict within Zelos Fortress, Dan fulfills a final request by firing the rockets that destroy the cyberbrain form of Stephanie's father.

After the Latis conflict concludes, Dan attends the peace treaty signing between Gradius and Latis. When a Bacterian dragon abducts Stephanie for conversion into a cyberbrain within the artificial sun fortress Gofer, Dan and Lord British coordinate a rescue mission. They infiltrate Gofer and successfully free Stephanie before her assimilation completes.

Dan demonstrates unwavering loyalty to his comrades and dedication to their missions. His professional relationship with Stephanie involves close operational coordination. After the Gofer rescue, Lord British acknowledges their effective synergy, conceding Dan is the more suitable partner for Stephanie.