I just used Culture points to gain the Independence trait within the Individualism ideology (shown in first screen snapshot below).  The description of the trait says "Famed starship Captain Kar Zarkof joins you".  I assumed that this meant that I would get a new leader named "Kar Zarkof" but, after I left the Ideology screen and went to the Leaders screen, he was nowhere to be found.  However, when I left the Leaders screen, I saw near my home world a new ship named "The Prospector" (second screen snapshot) whose captain is named "Bradley Croash".  Is this what the Independence trait awarded me?  If so, the description of the trait needs to be modified to match what a player really gets.