Commander Walters is a senior military officer who appears as a recurring character in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series. He is a human who initially holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before becoming the Commander of the Guardian Units of Nations, an organization known as G.U.N. that is dedicated to protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats.

Walters is an elderly man with a tall frame, neatly cut white hair, and blue eyes. He is almost always seen in a formal military uniform adorned with medals and badges, reflecting his high rank and long career in service.

In terms of personality, Walters is portrayed as a serious, no-nonsense, and professional leader who prioritizes global security above all else. He is highly paranoid regarding unknown beings, initially viewing Sonic as an uncontrolled extraterrestrial threat that must be detained to prevent potential danger. This paranoia leads him to authorize complex and manipulative operations, such as a sting operation codenamed Operation Catfish designed to capture Sonic. Despite this stern exterior, he possesses an honorable and respectful side. He is known for rewarding civilians for their help, often with gift cards to the Italian restaurant chain Olive Garden, which serves as a running character gag. He is also capable of listening to reason when a greater threat emerges and shows a soft spot for children, as seen in his past interactions with Maria Robotnik.

Commander Walters motivations are rooted in national and global protection. He is driven by a desire to safeguard humanity from unknown dangers, whether from aliens like Sonic or rogue scientists like Dr. Robotnik. However, a deeper motivation is tied to a tragic incident in his past. Over fifty years before the main events, Walters was a captain overseeing a top-secret government research facility for Project Shadow. He befriended Maria Robotnik, the granddaughter of the lead scientist, Professor Gerald Robotnik. When the government ordered the facility shut down, Walters attempted to protect Maria and Shadow during their escape, but accidentally caused a soldier to fire into a tank of volatile Chaos Energy. The resulting explosion killed Maria. This event led to Shadow being placed into suspended animation and Gerald being imprisoned. Walters carries immense guilt and regret for his role in Maria's death, which colors his later actions regarding Project Shadow.

In the story, Commander Walters serves as a key authority figure who bridges the human military and the alien heroes. In the first film, he is responsible for bringing Dr. Robotnik into the fold to investigate Sonic, a decision that backfires disastrously. By the second film, he leads G.U.N. in an attempt to capture Sonic, only to realize that Dr. Robotnik is the true threat. He ultimately calls a truce with the Wachowski family and acknowledges Sonic as a hero. He also discovers the dormant file on Project Shadow, setting the stage for the next conflict.

In the third film, Walters formally recruits Team Sonic to help stop Shadow the Hedgehog, who has escaped captivity. He reveals the origins of Project Shadow to Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. During this meeting, G.U.N. headquarters is attacked by drones sent by the still-living Professor Gerald Robotnik. Walters is critically injured in the attack. As a final act, he entrusts Sonic with a digital keycard, one of two needed to activate the Eclipse Cannon, a powerful orbital weapon. He succumbs to his wounds, marking his death. Even after his death, his appearance is used by Tom Wachowski via a holographic disguise to trick the new G.U.N. Director, Rockwell, into handing over the second keycard.

Commander Walters has several key relationships that define his role. His relationship with Sonic evolves from seeing him as a threat to recognizing him as a trusted ally and hero, ultimately entrusting him with a critical mission on his deathbed. His relationship with Shadow is rooted in tragedy, as Shadow holds him responsible for Maria's death, a fact that leads to a violent confrontation when Shadow mistakes Tom's disguise for the real commander. His relationship with the Wachowski family, particularly Tom and Maddie, is cordial, as he respects their courage and consistently thanks them for their efforts, even if his method of gratitude is humorously low-scale.

Throughout the series, Commander Walters undergoes notable development. He shifts from a paranoid antagonist who wants to imprison Sonic to a pragmatic ally who relies on the hedgehog to save the world. His arc is also one of atonement, as he finally reveals the buried secrets of Project Shadow and attempts to correct the mistakes of his past by handing the keycard to Sonic before his death.

In terms of notable abilities, Walters possesses no superhuman powers. His strengths lie in his strategic mind, tactical leadership, and extensive authority within the United States military and G.U.N. He is a cunning planner, capable of orchestrating elaborate operations. His primary contributions are his knowledge of classified information, his ability to mobilize military resources, and his high-level security clearance, which gives him access to critical artifacts like the key to the Eclipse Cannon.