John Baker (general)

General John Stuart Baker AC, DSM, FTSE (24 February 1936 – 9 July 2007) was a senior Australian Army officer. Entering the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1954, his career culminated with his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force from 1995 to 1998, the most senior position in the Australian Defence Force.[1] Baker also served as the inaugural Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation from 1990 to 1992,[2] Vice Chief of the Defence Force from 1992 to 1995, and was author of the highly influential 1988 "Baker Report".[3]

John Stuart Baker
Born(1936-02-24)24 February 1936
Melbourne, Victoria
Died9 July 2007(2007-07-09) (aged 71)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1954–1998
RankGeneral
Commands heldChief of the Defence Force (1995–98)
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1992–95)
Defence Intelligence Organisation (1990–92)
Joint Intelligence Organisation (1989–90)
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of Australia
Distinguished Service Medal
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Commander of the Legion of Honor (Philippines)
Distinguished Service Order (Singapore)

Career

Baker entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1954. On graduation in 1957, he was allotted to the Royal Australian Engineers and later completing a degree in civil engineering at the University of Melbourne.[4][5]

Baker's first regimental posting was a one-year appointment in Papua New Guinea, and not long after he spent a year in Hawaii as an exchange officer. In 1970–1971 he was attached to the 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit during the Vietnam War, where he was Mentioned in Despatches.[5][6] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1971, colonel in 1979, brigadier in 1982, major general in 1987, lieutenant general in 1992 and general in 1995.[7]

The Baker Report

In 1987, the then Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Gration, tasked the then Brigadier Baker to:[8]

conduct a study of the existing ADF command arrangements in order to recommend further development to meet likely requirements into the 21st century for both low and high levels of operations.

One of the principal aims of this study was to determine the optimal command arrangements for ADF air power. The final report, commonly referred to as the Baker Report, was published in March 1988.[3] Despite extensive reference being made to the command and control challenges posed by air power, Baker did not provide definitive guidance on how the ADF should structure its command arrangements to optimise the development and employment of air power. However, Chapter 7 of the report strongly advocated the creation of NORCOM,[9] a recommendation that was soon adopted by the ADF.[3]

"The Baker Report" remains the seminal work on command and control in the ADF.

Honours and awards

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)(1995)[10]
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)(1990)[11]
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)(1980)[12]
Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)(1998)[13]
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with claspVietnam[14]
Vietnam Medal with oak leaf for Mention in Despatches[14]
Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 with claspPapua New Guinea[14]
Centenary Medal(2001)[15]
Defence Force Service Medal with Federation Star (5 clasps)(40–44 years service)[14]
National Medal with clasp(1977)[16][17]
Australian Defence Medal
Army Commendation Medal (United States)[14]
Vietnam Campaign Medal (South Vietnam)[14]
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)[14]
Commander of the Legion of Honor (Philippines)[14]
Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) Distinguished Service Order (Military) (Singapore)[14]

Baker was a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.[18]

Portrait

During General Baker's tenure as Chief of Defence Force, the Royal Australian Engineers arranged for his portrait to be painted by leading Australian 20th century artist, Sir William Dargie.[19] The portrait (1997) hangs at the RAE's School of Military Engineering in Sydney, but was also used at General Baker's funeral in Canberra at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 2007.[20]

General John Baker Complex – HQJOC

On 7 March 2009 the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, officially opened the "General John Baker Complex",[21][22] housing the Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) from which joint command of the Australian Defence Force is exercised by the Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS). The complex is some 25 km from the national capital, Canberra, on the Kings Highway about half-way between the towns of Queanbeyan and Bungendore. After Mr Rudd named the complex, Mrs Margaret Baker unveiled a bronze bust of General Baker.[21] The bust was sculpted by Hal Holman.[23]

References
  1. "Short biography (and service record) of General John Stuart Baker AC, DSM". MECC 200/07 (Press release). Department of Defence, Australian Government. 10 July 2007.
  2. DIO Directors, www.defence.gov.au. (Quoted page no longer contains this information.) Archived 29 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Baker, J.S. "A Study into the ADF Command Arrangements", 1988. Also referred to as "The Baker Report".
  4. Former ADF chief General Baker dies, The Australian, 9 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  5. ACM Angus Houston, CDF eulogy for General John Baker AC, DSM, 13 July 2007, www.defence.gov.au, accessed 31 March 2012.
  6. Mention in Despatches. In 1970–1971 Baker "was project officer in the 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit, where he was responsible for construction activities in Phuoc Tuy Province. In recognition of his work on this project, Major Baker was mentioned in dispatches. His citation reads that 'Despite the short planning time, an extended supply system, a mixed workforce and, subsequently, a curtailed completion time, Major Baker—by his technical ability and dedication—brought the project near to successful completion before his departure from Vietnam. Throughout his management of the complex and difficult task, Major Baker displayed devotion to duty, professional skill and leadership qualities of the highest order which reflected great credit upon himself, his Corps and the Australian Army'. Huston, "CDF eulogy", pg.2
  7. Supporting Australian Defence, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, November 1998. Archived 18 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Gration, P.C. "A Study into the ADF Command Arrangements — Terms of Reference", CDF 620/1987, 11 August 1987.
  9. NORCOM, the ADF's Northern Command, was headquartered in Darwin.
  10. Companion of the Order of Australia – Baker, John Stuart, 26 January 1995, Australian Honours Database (itsanhonour.gov.au), accessed 12 December 2006.
    Citation: In recognition of service to the RAA as Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
  11. Officer of the Order of Australia – Baker, John Stuart, 11 June 1990, Australian Honours Database (itsanhonour.gov.au), accessed 12 December 2006.
    Citation: In recognition of service to the RAA, particularly as Director Joint Intelligence Organisation.
  12. Member of the Order of Australia – Baker, John Stuart, 26 January 1980, Australian Honours Database (itsanhonour.gov.au), accessed 31 March 2012.
    Citation: FOR SERVICE AS DIRECTOR OF AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING, HEADQUARTERS LOGISTICS COMMAND.
  13. Distinguished Service Medal – Baker, John Stuart, 3 June 1998, Australian Honours Database (itsanhonour.gov.au), accessed 12 December 2006.
  14. Medals and honours of General John Stuart Baker, AC, DSM, taken 13 July 2007 at his funeral service, accessed 26 August 2008.
  15. Centenary Medal – Baker, John Stuart, 1 January 2001, Australian Honours Database (itsanhonour.gov.au), accessed 12 December 2006.
    Citation: For service to Australian society as Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
  16. National Medal – Baker, John Stuart, 14 July 1977, Australian Honours Database (itsanhonour.gov.au), accessed 12 December 2006.
  17. National Medal, 1st Clasp – Baker, John Stuart, 17 September 1980, Australian Honours Database (itsanhonour.gov.au), accessed 12 December 2006.
  18. Former ADF chief General John Baker, Focus, No. 146, September 2007, p.30, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)
  19. Portrait of GEN Baker by Sir William Dargie, 1977, Defence Image Library.
  20. Funeral for Retired Chief of Defence Force General John Stuart Baker, AC, DSM, 13 July 2007, Australian Department of Defence, accessed 31 March 2012.
  21. PM opens Joint Operations HQ, 7 March 2009, Australian Department of Defence
  22. PM opens new Defence headquarters, 7 March 2009, ABC Online
  23. Hal Holman website: Main page Archived 5 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Cast Metal sculpture Archived 9 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Biography.
Military offices
Preceded by
Admiral Alan Beaumont		 Chief of the Defence Force
1995–1998		 Succeeded by
Admiral Chris Barrie
Preceded by
Vice Admiral Alan Beaumont		 Vice Chief of the Defence Force
1992–1995		 Succeeded by
Vice Admiral Robert Walls
New office Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation
1990–1992		 Succeeded by
Major General John Hartley
Preceded by
Paul Dibb		 Director of the Joint Intelligence Organisation
1989–1990		 Office replaced by Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation
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