Originally from Sheridan, Wyoming, LtCol Baskins enlisted in the US Navy in 1993 out of Escondido, California. He worked in the Operational Intelligence Division within the Combat Information Center on the AEGIS equipped guided missile cruiser USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51 out of Norfolk, VA) and deployed to the Persian/Arabian Gulf in 1994 and participated in counter-narcotics operations in South America in 1995 and 1996. Following his enlistment, he attended Norwich University where he earned a BA in Peace, War, and Diplomacy. After college, he spent nearly two years working in the telecommunications industry on a project to install the nation’s first 3G cellular network in San Diego.

In 2002, he re-entered military service via Officer Candidate School and then completed The Basic School in June 2003. After graduating from the Logistics Officer Course, he served as the Motor Transport Platoon Commander at 2d Tank Bn. In 2005, he deployed to Ramadi, Iraq as Aide-de-Camp for the 2MARDIV Assistant Division Commander. Following that deployment, he spent approximately eighteen months with 2d Recon Bn and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq as the Senior Watch Officer in charge of the Reconnaissance Operations Center and then as a provisional reconnaissance platoon commander. In 2007, Lieutenant Baskins was the only Marine selected to participate in the Olmsted Scholar Program and subsequently spent one year in Monterey, CA studying Mandarin prior to moving to Beijing for two years of graduate study at Tsinghua University. His research centered on the US-China military relationship from 1993-2009 and he ultimately earned a Master of Management degree focused on International Development.

Following his time in China, Captain Baskins assumed duties as the Operations Officer for CLB-4 in Okinawa, Japan and participated in exercises in South Korea and the Philippines. While in Okinawa, he conducted a lateral MOS move and became a 0202 MAGTF Intelligence Officer. With his new MOS, Captain Baskins completed his tour in Okinawa leading the Production and Analysis cell within the Air Combat Intelligence section of 1st MAW. In 2013, he transferred to Quantico, VA to serve as the USMC’s program manager for the newly established Regional Culture and Language Familiarization PME Program. Half way through that tour, Major Baskins was selected to serve as the Executive Assistant/Military Aide to LtGen Stewart, the first Marine to direct the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Major Baskins remained at the DIA for an additional year and led production of the DIA’s first ever unclassified report on China’s Military Power, ultimately published in January 2019. During this time he also completed Seminar XXI, a Commandant’s Fellowship program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 2017, Major Baskins reported to 1st Intelligence Bn to serve as the Executive Officer. Within one week, he was reassigned to back fill the S2 position with Task Force Spartan and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq one month later. Upon returning from that deployment, he resumed duties as the battalion’s Executive Officer for twelve months followed by a year as the I MIG Operations Officer from July 2019-2020. In July 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Baskins assumed duties as the Inspector & Instructor of Intelligence Support Battalion in New Orleans.

LtCol Baskins is married to Lauren Baskins and they have two daughters: Isabella (12) and Elizabeth (11).