Stephen V. Cole

Stephen V. Cole is an American game designer and the CEO of Amarillo Design Bureau (also known as ADB or, incorrectly, Starfleet Games) which publishes Star Fleet Battles,[1] Federation and Empire, Federation Commander, Prime Directive (a series of RPGs for D20, D20M, and GURPS), and other wargames set in the Star Fleet Universe.

Stephen Cole is a registered engineer and former Texas State Guard company commander (and operations officer).

[2]: 114  They started a "Pocket Games" line, with four science-fiction releases in 1979 designed by Cole: Starfire, Asteroid Zero-Four, Cerberus, and Star Fleet Battles.

[2]: 114  Cole had first conceived the idea of Star Fleet Battles in 1975, and finally published the game after obtaining a license from Franz Joseph.

Stephen V. Cole took ROTC from 1971-1975 but the Army chose not to offer him an active duty slot and was placed in the inactive reserves, never attending Officer Basic Course (OBC).

[2]: 117  Cole took over publishing Star Fleet Battles in 1999, and in the process made Amarillo Design Bureau into a corporation.