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EXTRA
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Dateline
- July 9, 2007
Retired
Chief of Defence Force General John Stuart Baker, AC, DSM
passess away
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General
John Baker, AC, DSM, the Chief of the Defence Force from 1995
to 1998, passed away late this afternoon. General Baker joined
the Army in 1954 and graduated from the Royal Military College,
Duntroon into the Royal Australian Engineers. He served his nation
with diligence and honour being Mentioned in Dispatches whilst
in Vietnam.
General Baker’s service to Australia was characterised by
his superb leadership and outstanding capacity for understanding
the details of any situation. His career, spanning over 44 years
saw him undertake a wide variety of positions from Strategy Development
and Combat Development through to Director of the Joint Intelligence
Organisation.
General Baker led the Defence Force through its most significant
structural change with the implementation of a new and more effective
higher command and control arrangements in 1996. He also was responsible
for the integration of Defence civilian and military staff into
a cohesive Defence team.
Details of services and media arrangements will be advised shortly.
A detailed service history will be available on the Defence website
www.defence.gov.au after 1400hr Tuesday 10 July 2007.
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Short Biography
General John Stuart Baker AC, DSM
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General
John Stuart Baker AC, DSM was born in Melbourne in 1936. He joined
the Australian Army in 1954, and graduated from the Royal Military
College, Duntroon, into the Royal Australian Engineers.
General Baker was a highly intelligent and dedicated military
officer. He saw operational service in Papua New Guinea and undertook
two tours in Vietnam. For his work in Vietnam with the 1st Australian
Civil Affairs Unit, he was Mentioned in Dispatches for his devotion
to duty, professional skill and leadership qualities of the highest
order.
His career, spanning over 44 years saw him undertake a wide variety
of command, staff and field appointments, including Director General
Joint Service Policy, Director Joint Intelligence Organisation
and Vice Chief of the Defence Force. In 1995 General Baker was
appointed Chief of the Defence Force.
During his tenure as Chief of the Defence Force, General Baker
led significant structural change with the implementation of new
and more effective higher command and control arrangements. He
was also responsible for implementing the Defence Reform Program
and integrating civilian and military staff into a cohesive Defence
team. General Baker retired from the Australian Defence Force
in 1998.
General John Baker was greatly admired throughout the entire Australian
Defence Force. He garnered great respect for his compassion, determination
and professional mastery.
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*
1954 Entered Royal Military College
* 1957 Commissioned into the Royal Australia Engineers
* 1961 Graduated as a Civil Engineer from the University of Melbourne
* 1961 24th Construction Squadron
* 1963 11th Field Squadron
* 1964 20th Commander Royal Engineer Works
* 1965 Exchange appointment with US 25th Infantry Division
* 1966 Instructor at School of Military Engineering
* 1967 Student Army Command and Staff College
* 1967 Staff Officer Directorate Engineers, Army Headquarters
* 1970 Project Officer, 1st Civil Affairs Unit, South Vietnam
* 1970 Mention in Dispatches for service in South Vietnam
* 1972 Staff Officer Directorate Engineers, Army Headquarters
* 1973 Student Joint Services Staff College
* 1974 Staff Officer Operation Branch, Army Office
* 1977 Instructor Joint Service Staff College
* 1979 Director Operations Branch, Army Office
* 1980 Director Combat Development – Army
* 1980 Appointed Member of the Order of Australia
* 1982 Director General Joint Service Policy
* 1985 Commander 2nd Military District
* 1987 Deputy Chief of Operations – Army
* 1987 Chief of Logistics - Army
* 1989 Director, Joint Intelligence Organisation
* 1990 Promoted to Officer of the order of Australia
* 1992 Vice Chief of Defence Force
* 1995 Chief of Defence Force
* 1995 Promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia
* 1998 Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
* 1998 Retired, 7th August 1998 |
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