They settled in Portland, Oregon where Gilbert took a job in a small starship parts factory overseeing quality control. His mother was a nurse at the local hospital. Ken went to public schools and was a very average student, though his teachers often complained about him for not living up to his full potential. When Ken reached middle school two very important things occurred. He met Kip Young, who shared his love of comic books with Ken. The two were inseparable from that point on. That same year, tragedy struck. His beloved uncle Gilbert's younger brother, who had also gone to the academy with him, was killed while serving on the USS Chicago as Security Chief. This struck Gilbert hard and made him a little more protective of Ken than he should have been. He blamed himself for his brother's death since he had convinced him to join up. As Ken grew older he became more and more rebellious of his father's overbearing nature and much to the dismay of all those around him, including his close friend Kip, he began to get into trouble with the law. Mostly it was petty things, joy rides in hover cars and small time Romulan Ale running. Kip convinced him to straighten up and fly right but with their high school days coming to an end and Kip's application to the Academy being accepted Ken did not know what he was going to do.

After graduation Gilbert offered his son a job at the factory but Ken rejected it, opting to work as a waiter in a restaurant. He made good money and could feed his classic comic book addiction. He would spend the afternoons on his parents' couch lounging while they worked, and the nights waiting tables. His father was starting to get over his protective phase and his brother's death. Not long after that he noticed his son's lack of ambition to move out of his house so he decided that his son needed some direction. He told him that he should think about going to the Academy and that with some help studying he could ace the exams. He pointed out that Kip was already serving in the fleet and had been assigned to a ship. Ken pointed out to his father that Kip was an ensign on board a Miranda class cruiser. In the end Ken joined Starfleet but in classic style of flouting his father's wishes he enlisted, so in his words "he wouldn't end up wasting four years of his life at the Academy". Though dismayed at his son's choice Gilbert was happy his son would be getting some direction. Shortly before he left for the enlisted training program Kip was killed in the fighting remnants of the Dominion. This struck a blow to Ken but he swore to do well in Starfleet and maybe become an officer someday to honor his friend.

Ken enlisted with the guarantee of security training and posting to the fleet. He excelled in basic training and was promoted to Crewman 2nd class upon graduation. His behavior also improved and he soon knew every Starfleet regulation but not for the reasons many spit and polish Starfleet personnel do; he knew what he could and couldn't do and enjoyed getting out of trouble by using the regulation when his charm wouldn't do. In security school he again excelled, and graduated top of his class which gained him another push button to Crewman 1st class and an advanced school which thrilled his father and mother. During his Advanced training his orders were cancelled because the ship he was going to was destroyed while attempting to fend off a group of space pirates who were attacking a Bajoran outpost. He spent several months working on the moon doing day to day security at Starfleet facilities until new orders to the USS Sulu came through.

Ken is characterized as a rather intelligent young man. He walks the line between scoundrel and spit-shine enlisted man. He works well in teams, especially if he is in charge and should have a promising career in Starfleet.