is an
American Atlantis Expedition scientist in the television series ''
Stargate Atlantis ''. Played by
Ben Cotton , he first appeared in the episode "
Thirty-eight Minutes ".
He was originally part of the
SGC and joined the Atlantis expedition because he thought things would be more of his liking with a civilian leader instead of a military one.
When
Sheppard 's team
Puddle Jumper was stuck in an active
Stargate , he was part of the team working in a way to help them. He got into an argument with
Dr. Simpson about the posibility of the Jumper exploding and the burning fragments entering the Gateroom like bombs. She thought it was a very remote possibility, but he thought it wasn't. The other scientists and
Dr. Weir sided with her.
After Weir told him to "Worry a little bit more about their lives, and less about your own ass," he accused her of humiliating him in front of his team. She threatened to exile him to a barren world alone if he didn't return to work.
In the end, however, his idea of blowing up the rear hatch of the Jumper to get forward momentum helped the ship come through the gate ("
Thirty-eight Minutes ").
When everybody was asked to record a personal message to send to the loved ones on
Earth , he instead choose to record one to
General O'Neil , detailing everything he thought Weir had done wrong since their arrival ("
Letters From Pegasus ").
In a discussion over whether to stay and fight, he believed that 200 people, mostly "scientists who’ve never even fired a gun before", were no match for tens of thousands of
Wraith without the City's shield or primary defenses.
Rodney McKay was surprised to find himself agreeing with Kavanagh. ("
The Gift ")
He was aboard the Daedalus when the message of a
Trust agent having infiltrated Atlantis arrived. He was their prime suspect in sabotaging the city, but he was found innocent. It was explained that he left Atlantis after the siege, he returned a few months later but requested to leave again just three weeks after that because he didn't feel welcomed or valorated ("
Critical Mass ").
As he was threatened by
Ronon Dex to give up the code needed to save the base (the one he didn't know) and that this act was authorised by
Dr. Weir it is very likely that Kavanaugh has permenantly left the Atlantis team, returning to earth.
He has generated mixed reviews among some fans, some finding him annoying, others finding him interesting.
