Edward Dionicio Baca (July 27, 1938 – September 15, 2020) was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army who was the first Hispanic to serve as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Edward D. Baca | |
|---|---|
 LTG Edward Baca, Chief, National Guard Bureau | |
| Born | July 27, 1938 Santa Fe, New Mexico, US |
| Died | September 15, 2020 (aged 82) Albuquerque, New Mexico, US |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1956–1998 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Adjutant General, New Mexico National Guard Chief of the National Guard Bureau |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | |
| Other work | Leadership and management consultant |
Early life
editEdward Baca was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on July 27, 1938, into a family with a long history in New Mexico. His mother, Delphine Garcia, was indigenous to New Mexico and one of the first major female Mexican political activists in New Mexico. His father, Ernesto, was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. Baca's ancestors arrived in Mexico City with the conquistadores in the 16th century and participated in the Oñate expedition that resulted in the founding of the Province of New Mexico. Two of his great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War.[1]
One of six children, Baca attended St. Michael's High School in Santa Fe, helping to pay the tuition by working on construction crews during summers. His father died shortly after Baca's high school graduation. Seeking to help Baca recover and begin a career, a cousin convinced him to join the National Guard, and on November 19, 1956, he became a member of Battery C, 726th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.[1]
OCS and active duty service
editBaca graduated from Officer Candidate School in July, 1962 and became a platoon leader in the 3631st Maintenance Company. He soon applied for an overseas active duty assignment, and was deployed to South Vietnam. Upon his release from active duty on February 22, 1966, Baca returned to New Mexico and took command of the 3631st.[2]
National Guard leader
editBaca continued to advance through the ranks in a series of command and staff assignments. On January 30, 1977, he became the military personnel officer for the New Mexico Army National Guard. He was later assigned as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G1). In 1979 Baca was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed the State Command Administrative Officer and Secretary of the General Staff.[3]
In 1983 Baca was appointed by Governor Toney Anaya to be Adjutant General of the New Mexico National Guard and promoted to Major General. His tenure was marked by a number of accomplishments, including taking part in an effort to modernize the National Guard nationwide, including the deployment of the Army's only Roland Air Defense battalion. He also had a role in the fielding of Chaparral and Hawk missile battalions in the Army Reserve.[3] In addition, the New Mexico National Guard's Drug Demand Reduction Program was praised by the National Guard Bureau and used as a pilot program for similar programs in other states.[4][5]
In 1994 Baca was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau by President Bill Clinton.[6]
In 1995, the United States Department of Defense planned to cut the number of National Guard combat divisions by 50% in order to allocate more funding to active duty forces. Baca strongly resisted this attempt, replying to those in the Pentagon who called for a justification of Guard combat units' contribution to national security: "There were a lot of folks who said the same thing before World War II, 'Where's the threat?'"[7] By 1998, his efforts paid off when Guardsmen were needed to supplement the US complement for SFOR in Bosnia, and were available, enabling the National Guard to deploy its first combat unit overseas in nearly thirty years. Of this time, Baca was able to say of the Guard's capacity: "We've got a reserve of untapped ability before we'd ever feel a pinch."[8]
In 1998, Baca unsuccessfully attempted to have the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery changed to eliminate what he perceived as cultural biases.[9][10]
Baca remained Chief until his retirement on July 31, 1998.[11] After retirement he led a leadership training and consulting business in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Personal life
editBaca was married to Rita Hennigan of Muenster, Texas. The couple had seven children -- Brian (1961-2024), Brenda, Karen Nielsen, Mark, Michelle, David, and Daniel (1974-2015). Four served in the military, including two who were members of the New Mexico National Guard.[1] Baca died from leukemia on September 15, 2020, at the age of 82.[12] He was buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery.[12]
Education
editBaca attended the College of Santa Fe, and in 1986 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts from Regents College of the University of the State of New York (now Excelsior University).[13][14] He was a graduate of the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses and the Command and General Staff Officer Course.[13]
Awards
editAmong LTG Baca's decorations were:
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Award with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star
Vietnam Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two Hourglass Devices
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
- Other awards
Notes
edit- ^ a b c Rudi Williams, "Hispano America USA," Archived 2007-08-20 at the Wayback Machine American Forces Press Service. Accessed on February 8, 2009.
- ^ American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor, The Quan, Convention Speaker, Lieutenant General Edward D. Baca, Chief, National Guard Bureau Archived 2015-10-10 at the Wayback Machine, April, 1998, page 1
- ^ a b c America USA, "Lieutenant General Edward D. Baca," Archived 2007-08-20 at the Wayback Machine Hispanic America USA: Hispanic Contributions. Accessed on February 8, 2009.
- ^ United States Department of Defense. "Hispanic Americans in the US Army". US Army. Archived from the original on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ Carlos R. Glover, The War on Drugs: Measuring the Effectiveness of National Guard Efforts in Preventing Drug Use Among America's Youth, 1997, page iii
- ^ Denver Times, Guard Chief Nominated, May 3, 1994
- ^ "Guardsmen Fight Cuts by Pentagon," The New York Times (December 26, 1995): A1.
- ^ Mike O'Connor, "A Downsized Army Leans on Reserves for Duty in Bosnia," The New York Times (May 25, 1998).
- ^ "Military Steps up Drive to Recruit Latinos," American Friends Service Committee. Accessed on February 17, 2009.
- ^ Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times, Military May Seek to Boost Latino Ranks, April 30, 1998
- ^ Tuskegee Times Daily, Tuskegee Native to Head Guard, August 14, 1998
- ^ a b Nathanson, Rick (September 20, 2020). "Guard leader was dedicated and charismatic". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM.
- ^ a b Thomas, Gerald W.; Billington, Monroe Lee; Walker, Roger D. (1994). Victory in World War II: The New Mexico Story. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-8263-1565-6 – via Google Books.
- ^ Subcommittee on National Security, Committee on Appropriations (1997). Guard/Reserve Issues. Washington, DC: United States House of Representatives. p. 202.
- ^ "NMSU Honorary Degree Recipients," Archived 2008-06-27 at the Wayback Machine NMSU Foundation. May 14, 2009.
External links
edit
- Baca Group Archived 2011-06-25 at the Wayback Machine