Ralph Baker (general)

Last updated
Ralph Baker
Ralph O. Baker.jpg
Baker as a major general and commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa
Born (1960-03-21) March 21, 1960 (age 64)
Turkey
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States of America
Service/branchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Years of service1982–2013
Rank Major General (Highest rank held)
Brigadier General (Rank at retirement)
Commands held5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa
Battles/wars Operation urgent Fury
Iraq War
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Other workDirector of Strategic Initiatives, SOS International, LLC
Managing Director, Southern Development Ltd. (SODEVCO)

Ralph Otto "Rob" Baker Jr. (born March 21, 1960) is a retired United States Army Brigadier General who was formerly a major general and commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. [1]

Contents

Early life

Ralph Otto Baker Jr. is a 1978 graduate of Aberdeen High School. [2]

Education

He then attended the United States Military Academy and received a bachelor's degree in 1982. [3] He later earned master's degrees from Central Michigan University and the Naval War College. [3]

Military education

During his Army career, Baker graduated from the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. [2] He also attended the Airborne, Ranger, Pathfinder, Jumpmaster, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle and Joint Firepower Control courses. [2]

Start of career

Baker was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry after graduating from West Point. [3] His assignments included service with the 82nd Airborne Division during its deployment to Grenada. Among his postings were: 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized); Deputy G3, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany. [2]

Additional assignments included Tactical Officer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom; Aide-de-Camp to the commanding general, I Corps and Fort Lewis; and deputy director for Politico-Military Affairs, J-5 – Middle East, Strategic Plans and Policy, on the Joint Staff. [2] Baker participated in 87 parachute jumps. [2]

He commanded 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment and 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. [2] [3]

Career as a general officer

After becoming a brigadier general, Baker served as Deputy Commanding General, United States Division – Center in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. [2] At the time of his promotion to major general, he was vice director for Joint Force Development (J7) on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. [2]

After receiving his second star, Baker served as commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa from 2012 until he retired in 2013. [4] Because he did not have enough time in grade as a major general, Baker's retired rank was brigadier general. [4]

He was relieved of his command in March, 2013, following allegations of sexual misconduct. [4] During an investigation, soldiers serving under Baker at Camp Lemonnier said he had a history of heavy drinking. [4] He paid a fine, was demoted to brigadier general, and retired in September, 2013. [4]

Later career

Baker was employed as Director of Strategic Initiatives for SOS International, LLC. [5] He later worked as Managing Director for Southern Development Ltd. (SODEVCO),a company seeking to develop fuel and mineral processing enterprises in countries including Afghanistan.

Awards

Baker's awards include: [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John R. Vines</span> United States Army general

Lieutenant General John Randolph Vines is the former commander of the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps and Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Bryant Jr.</span> United States Army general

Albert Bryant Jr. is a retired United States Army brigadier general, best known for service as the Chief of Western Hemisphere Operations during and in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and for his tenure as the Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division at the time of the division's detection and capture of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Bryant also served as the Deputy Commander of Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the United States Army's Armor School. As Chief of Staff of NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR), Bryant was the highest ranking American general on the KFOR leadership team in the lead up to Kosovo independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin L. Hagenbeck</span> US Army general

Lieutenant General Franklin Lee Hagenbeck is a retired United States Army officer who served as the 57th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy from June 2006 to July 2010. Previous to his assignment at West Point, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 United States Army, Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas R. Turner II</span> United States Army general

Lieutenant General Thomas R. Turner II is a retired United States Army officer, who served as the commander of the 101st Airborne Division and United States Army North, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William H. Brandenburg</span>

William H. Brandenburg is a retired major general in the United States Army. He last served as deputy commanding general, U.S. Army, Pacific, August 8, 2003. Prior to his last assignment, he was deputy commanding general for training and readiness, I Corps and Fort Lewis. From November 29, 2004, until December 1, 2005, he deployed to Iraq as deputy commanding general and commanding general, Task Force 134.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael S. Tucker</span> United States Army general

Lieutenant General Michael S. Tucker is a retired United States Army general who served Commanding General of the First United States Army from 2013 until 2016. He formerly served as the Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Lute</span> American retired general

Lt. Gen. Douglas Edward Lute is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and public servant who served as the United States permanent representative to NATO from 2013 to 2017. He was nominated for the post by President Obama on May 23, 2013, confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2013 by voice vote, and assumed his position on September 3, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James C. Yarbrough</span>

James C. Yarbrough is a retired brigadier general in the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John W. Foss</span> United States Army general (1933–2020)

John William Foss was a United States Army general, and commander of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John P. McLaren</span>

John P. McLaren, Jr. is a retired United States Army major general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hector E. Pagan</span> United States Army officer

Brigadier General Hector E. Pagan is a United States Army officer who is the first Hispanic of Puerto Rican descent to become Deputy Commanding General of the U.S.Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Barno</span> United States Army general

David William Barno is a retired lieutenant general of the United States Army. He was commander of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Ferriter</span> United States Army general

Michael Ferriter is a retired United States Army Lieutenant General. He served as commanding general of the United States Army Installation Management Command/U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management from 2011 until 2014. During his career he has participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, and served three tours of duty in Iraq. On June 19, 2018, he was named president and CEO of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viet Xuan Luong</span> United States Army major general (born 1965)

Việt Xuan Luong is a retired United States Army major general. He is the first American officer promoted to general officer rank who was born in Vietnam. He last served as the Commanding General of United States Army, Japan/I Corps Forward. He previously served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Eighth Army. His prior assignments included chief of staff of United States Army Central; Director of Joint and Integration, Headquarters Department of the Army, G-8; assistant division commander–maneuver for the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, concurrent with assignment as commander, Train Advise Assist Command – South, Resolute Support Mission Joint Command, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas E. Ayres</span> United States Army general (born 1962)

Major General Thomas E. Ayres is a retired American military lawyer who served as the 20th Deputy Judge Advocate General of the United States Army. On January 18, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated him to become General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force. This nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 15, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry E. Miller Jr.</span> United States Army general

Harry E. Miller Jr. is a retired Army National Guard officer. A veteran of the Iraq War, he attained the rank of major general as commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, a position he held from 2013 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Pede</span> United States Army general

Charles Nicholas Pede is a military lawyer and retired United States Army lieutenant general who last served as the 40th Judge Advocate General of the United States Army. Pede was promoted from the rank of brigadier general to the rank of lieutenant general, bypassing the rank of major general on July 26, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff W. Mathis III</span> US Army major general

Jeff W. Mathis III was a career officer in the United States Army. A longtime member of the Army National Guard, Mathis attained the rank of major general before retiring in 2014. A veteran of overseas deployment to Africa during the Global War on Terrorism, he was most notable for high profile command assignments including Joint Task Force – Civil Support (2012-2014) and I Corps (2009-2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric D. Little</span> U.S. Army general

Eric D. Little is a United States Army brigadier general who serves as the deputy director for operations of the United States Space Command. He previously served as commanding general of the White Sands Missile Range and deputy commanding general for developmental testing of the United States Army Test and Evaluation Command from May 2021 to November 2023. He has one son currently serving the nation as a PED Platoon Leader in 504th MI BDE, First Lieutenant Brennan Little.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey L. Bannister</span> U.S. Army major general

Jeffrey L. Bannister was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of Operation Joint Guardian (1998), Operation Essential Harvest (2000–2001), Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Freedom Sentinel, he attained the rank of major general and was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal (2), Defense Superior Service Medal (4), Legion of Merit (2), and Bronze Star Medal (3). Bannister was most notable for his service as commander of the 10th Mountain Division from 2015 to 2017.

References

  1. ↑ Megan McCloskey (4 April 2013). "Baker relieved of duties as Task Force-Horn of Africa commander". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 John Hesterly (2 February 2012). "Aberdeen High graduate Baker receives second star". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Laura Caswell (16 February 2011). "Brigadier General Ralph O. Baker: Director for Operational Plans and Joint Force Development, J7" (PDF). Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Dan Lamothe (1 October 2014). "Army general, accused of sexual assault by senior adviser, retired quietly with demotion". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Biography, Rob Baker". Our Leadership Team. Dubai, UAE: SODEVCO. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.