Who is Dr. Charles Brophy from Deception Point and what is their importance?

Charles Brophy is a Canadian geologist doing work on the Milne Ice Shelf when he is abducted and forced to send a radio message saying that he discovered a large anomaly in the ice that he thinks is a meteorite. He is then killed. His message is the catalyst that gets NASA up to the Arctic to find the false meteorite, and his death paves the way for NASA to make their announcement about the discover of alien fossils, and thereby ensure a victory for President Herney in the upcoming election.