Lieutenant Colonel Christopher “Woogie” Baker was commissioned in 2005 upon graduation from the University of North Florida. He was designated a naval aviator in October of 2007 and selected to fly the F/A-18 Hornet.
Lieutenant Colonel Baker’s previous assignments include Schedules Officer, Aviation Safety Officer, Powerline Officer in Charge, Aviation Safety Officer, NATOPS Officer, Director of Safety, Battalion Air Officer, Pilot Training Officer, Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Operations Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Executive Officer.
His previous units include Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, 2nd Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, Marine Aircraft Group 11, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 and Marine Fighter Training Squadron 402.
Lieutenant Colonel Baker began his career in Naval Aviation executing deployed operations with VMFA-251 aboard the USS Enterprise to Afghanistan and Iraq. Upon return from those deployments, he trained and deployed as the Battalion Air Officer with V26 to the Pacific AOR.
After a successful tour in the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Baker moved to San Diego where he served with MAG-11 and subsequently deployed with VMFA-314.
In 2016, he transitioned to Marine Forces Reserve by joining the Active Reserve Program and taking an assignment with VMFT-401. He spent five years with “The Lucky Snipers” supporting the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One and the Marine Corps Fleet with profession F-5 adversary training.
In 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Baker retuned to the F/A-18 when he transferred to VMFA-112 for the mobilization, deployment and demobilization of the Cowboys. As a Cowboy, he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer.
In 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Baker was selected to assist a small cadre of pilots in the establishment of the Marine Corps second F-5 Adversary Squadron, VMFT-402, in Beaufort, SC.
Assignments in the Supporting Establishment include: Operations Officer, Pilot Training Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer in Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401. Executive Officer in Marine Fighter Training Squadron 402.
Headquarters and Staff Assignments: MAG-11 Aviation Safety Officer and NATOPS Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Baker is a graduate of the Marine Adversary Tactics Instructor Course, Weapons and Tactics Instructor Adversary Course, the Marine Corps University’s Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College (DEP).