Will Riker was born in Alaska and entered Starfleet Academy with an impressive score. His ambition and drive quickly earned him the rank of Commander and eventually an offer to command the USS Drake. He turned this offer down in favor of accepting the position of First Officer aboard the Enterprise.
As First Officer, Riker sees protecting the life of the Captain as one of his major responsibilities. This has led to the only blemish in his record. When serving as First Officer on his first ship, Riker refused to beam Captain DeSoto down to Altair IV because he felt the situation was too dangerous. Captain DeSoto thinks highly of Commander Riker, but he did note Riker's refusal in his permanent service record.
As First Officer, Riker has the responsibility to present to the Captain with a completely functional vessel, along with a fully trained crew. These "housekeeping functions" are not as glamorous or exciting as leading an Away Team, but Commander Riker has performed those duties in an outstanding manner. Commander Riker prides himself on knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the crew and Away Teams and on utilizing the right people to solve problems. He has a special sense of humor that has served him well in his leadership position aboard the ship. He accepts responsibility for the Away Team missions, not because he feels that he can do a better job than the Captain, but because he knows that the loss of Captain Picard would spell the end of any Enterprise mission.