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AMC vice commander retires; wraps up 33-year career

  • Published
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --   After more than 33 years of service, the Air Mobility Command vice commander said goodbye to AMC and the Air Force May 24 during a retirement ceremony here.

During the ceremony, Lt. Gen. John R. Baker, who has served as the second in command at AMC since April 2002, was thanked by Gen. John W. Handy, commander of Air Mobility Command and U.S. Transportation Command, for his dedication to the Air Force and AMC.

It is my great honor to preside over this ceremony and recognize the accomplishments and career [of General Baker], General Handy said. I am very thankful that I was able to bring him to AMC to serve as my vice commander.

The constant stress of fighting the Global War on Terrorism has made their time together at the command tough, General Handy said. But he thanked General Baker for his commitment to solving the tough tasks of moving cargo, fuel and people around the world safely and effectively.

During his time at the command, AMC successfully flew more than 500,000 airlift missions to high-threat areas in support of the GWOT. He also oversaw the establishment of the pure pallet initiative and the formation of the combat response wing, allowing AMC to accomplish its warfighting mission more efficiently.

In honor of his leadership skills and devotion to duty, General Baker was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, first oak leaf cluster.

After receiving his medal, the general thanked the people of AMC for their contributions to his success.

As I look out into the audience, I see many faces of the AMC staff who made General Handy and my ideas happen, he said. I wanted to make sure I took advantage of this occasion to thank you all for that.

The general also noted the high turnover occurring at the command, but said he was confident AMC would continue to progress with the new changes.

Also during his remarks, General Baker thanked his family for their constant and continued support of his career. He said he is now looking forward to going back to his home in Arkansas and returning that support to his family.

Its sad today for AMC to say farewell to [General Baker], General Handy said. But its also sweet for [the Bakers], because its the start of a new life back in Arkansas with their friends and family.

General Baker was commissioned into the Air Force in February 1972 as a distinguished ROTC graduate at the University of Oklahoma. After completing pilot training, he logged more than 3,100 flying hours in the F-4, F-15, KC-135 and OV-10 aircraft.

General Bakers command positions have included an F-15 training squadron, an operations group, a wing and the Air Intelligence Agency.

Maj. Gen. Christopher A. Kelley, former commander of the Air Mobility Warfare Center at Fort Dix, N.J., has been selected for promotion to lieutenant general and will replace General Baker as the AMC vice commander May 31.

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