General Courtland is portrayed as a seasoned and pragmatic military officer, commanding the U.S. response to a mysterious alien crash in Doctor Who: The Crucible of Terror. He is sceptical, authoritarian, and wary of the unknown, showing distrust toward both the Doctor and the alien survivor, Eddic. Despite his military rigidity and instinct for pre-emptive action, he is not irrational—he listens to reason when pressed and defers to UNIT's authority when appropriate. Courtland represents the traditional chain-of-command mindset, prioritising Earth’s security above all else, even when faced with technologies and threats beyond his understanding. (115 diaogues)