iral Shane (portrayed by Liam Neeson) is an iral in the United States Navy. He is the father of Samantha Shane, and the direct superior of both Alex Hopper and Stone Hopper. The iral recognizes Alex's potential, but also feels his reckless behavior is holding him back. He is aware that the Lieutenant and his daughter are dating, but not that they are in fact engaged. When the aliens arrive during RIMPAC, he dispatches destroyers USS Sampson, USS John Paul Jones and the Japanese destroyer Myoko to investigate, but is cut off when a barrier is erected. After a fighter jet trying to get through is destroyed, he refuses to send anymore and decides to rely on his men inside while readying his ships and fighters for if the barrier goes down. When the barrier suddenly does go down, iral Shane quickly orders the launch of all of his aircraft carrier's fighters and they arrive just in time to save the defensless battleship USS Missouri from the alien force field ship and to destroy that ship. Afterwards, iral Shane awards the heroes of the battle awards including now Lieutenant Commander Alex Hopper a Silver Star and tells Alex he looks forward to when Alex gets his own ship to command. After the ceremony, Alex, prompted by Samantha, asks him for permision to marry his daughter which he instantly denies. However, iral Shane invites Alex for a chicken burrito (causing Alex to realize Samantha told him about how she and Alex met) to discuss Alex's surrender. Show less «