Aaron M. Baker

Captain Aaron M. Baker

Captain Aaron Baker is the Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Operations Officer, Detachment 205, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. In this capacity, he is responsible for training over 70 cadets and developing future Air Force officers. Prior to assuming his current duties, Captain Baker served as Brach Chief Field Training, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Illinois.

Captain Baker joined the United States Air Force in January 2008 and completed Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB.  Upon graduation of Missile and Space Systems Electronics Maintenance School, he received an assignment to Barksdale AFB.  While at Barksdale AFB, he served in a variety of positions including Missile Maintenance Technician, Verification and Checkout Equipment Team Chief and Lead Missile Maintenance Instructor.  In 2015, he was selected for a Developmental Special Duty (DSD) position as an Airman Leadership School Instructor.      

Captain Baker was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 2018.  Upon completion of Undergraduate Cyber Training at Keesler AFB, he was assigned to the Cyberspace Support Squadron, at Scott AFB as an Executive Officer.  In October 2019 he was selected as the Operations Flight Commander for the 561 Network Operations Squadron Detachment 3 where he was responsible for overseeing operations that delivered a global classified network to 140,000 joint users and operated the Air Forces largest Area Processing Center, delivering enterprise services to 900,000 DOD employees.  In 2021 he was selected to instruct Air Force ROTC at Detachment 205, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  During that time, he held the positions of Education Officer, Recruiting Officer, and Operations Flight Commander. In 2024, he left to go work in and run the Field Training Branch for Headquarters Air Force ROTC. In this position Captain Baker oversaw the national Field Training program for 145 Air Force ROTC Detachments.  He led the planning of the annual 100-day training program that evaluated over 4,500 cadets preparedness to lead at their detachments.