Desmond Miles is the modern-day protagonist of the first Assassin's Creed story arc.
Desmond is a descendant of several important historical Assassins, including Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore. Abstergo Industries abducts him and uses the Animus to access his genetic memories. By reliving those memories, Abstergo seeks information connected to the Assassins and ancient precursor technology.
Desmond's modern storyline continues through Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, Revelations, and Assassin's Creed III. His father is William Miles, a senior figure in the modern Assassin Brotherhood. Layla Hassan becomes the central modern-day playable character much later, beginning with Assassin's Creed Origins. Warren Vidic is an Abstergo scientist, not the series' first modern protagonist.