Vallien hails from a polar region of the planet Vulcan, inhabited by ethnic minorities known for fair skin and blonde hair--noticeably different physical features, compared to the dark-haired majority.  Like most Vulcans, Vallien is logical and non-emotional in attitude and action, yet seems "warmer" and more sociable than most.

    Though raised on the precepts of logic taught to Vulcans from their childhood years, Vallien does not strive for Kolinahr, the total elimination of emotion widely accepted in Vulcan society as the height of virtue.  Vallien is a disciple of Sirenahr, a school of thought which arose from a different interpretation of the teachings of Surak which transformed Vulcan society long ago.  Rather than strive for "destruction" of the emotional core, Sirenahr contends that harmony is attained through a different focus for mind and body.  Instead of concentrating on the emotional core, the discipline focuses away from it, circumventing and ignoring it, so that a kind of emotional "orbit" is achieved, with the non-emotional outer core circling the emotional inner core, never touching.  Sirenahr promotes "destruction of the self", orienting thought and attention towards external events and surroundings.  This gives Vallien his emotional control--it is enough, for him.  Though he may at times seem to convey emotion, he does not actually feel it.  He rarely raises an eyebrow as some Vulcans do in response to statements conveyed with emotional inflection.

    Sirenahr adherents, such as Vallien, will often focus on the external to the point that they are in a sense unaware of their own presence.  Like many Vulcans, disciples of this order are highly efficient, acting with complete control and absence of wasted energy, though they are simply "in tune" with their environment.  They don't present a "cold" social aura as do most Vulcans; rather they complement their surroundings, so that they are less disruptive (this is not the intention, but merely a side-effect).  This makes them well-suited for care professions, including a lithe aptitude for mind-melds as a therapeutic tool: They are less intrusive into a subject's mind via "melding", almost seemingly non-present, with less personal risk due to the nature of the practice.  Vallien, however, is not a certified master of the art and skill of mind-melding; therefore he will only engage in mind-melds under the most extreme of circumstances.

    Vallien has served aboard the Arcadia since 2378, the year of the ship's original launch.  He currently works in the Tactical Department, and is often seen manning the bridge tactical station  His exact age has not been revealed, but he is considered young (for a Vulcan).