Despite all her accomplishments her history has dark overtones. She was born on the wrong side of the bed to homeless teenager. Her only saving grace was that her mother did not do drugs. She was found abandoned in an alleyway by a police officer, not long after her mother had given birth to her. She was still attached to the placenta. Social services took her in and there she remained until she was of age to go away for school. It was hard work and determination that raised her above the circumstances which she was born into.
It was in college that she learned she needed to reinvent herself in order to rise above her past. She did this carefully. She found a speech coach and she absorbed everything they taught her. She learned to perfect her oratory skills. Many thought that she would eventually go into politics or remain a lawyer. Instead she studied constitutional and criminal law. She loved law, the history, philosophy and theory behind it. But, there was always that need to improve herself and to learn more. Not to mention the mountain of debt she incurred while in school.
To pay for that debt she entered into the military. After ten years of service she was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. When she entered back into civilian life she picked up where she left off. A few years passed and she was appointed as a Federal judge to Picon. While working there she also taught a few law classes at the Academy. One of the classes she taught was "Ethics and Law" and her favorite, "Military, Civilian, Law and You".
She was not in the city when the Cylons dropped the nuclear bombs, she was on vacation. It took her some time but eventually she ended up on Spree's command staff as a lesion because of her direct experience with both military and civilians. She was helping at one of the bases held by the resistance that was hit by a Cylon assault. Massive casualties were the direct result, no few fatalities as well, and Rhonwen was counted among the casualties. The medical staff, such as it was, could only do so much and Rhonwen was placed on the short list of officers and personnel to be med-evac.
Military Time: Her time spent in the Military was spent paying off her debt and working on gaining a very good understanding of Military Law.
When she left the Military she held the rank of Captain.
In 1995 she met Marcus Petra he had been shot by a crewman who he was trying to calm down on the Valkyrie. He fell under investigation to see if he had handled the situation correctly and within the parameters of his rank and command. This was her last case she handled for the Military.
She and Petra kept in contact.