Chief Wayne Baker
Daniel Wayne Baker was born in Oakland, California in January of 1971. He grew up in the Salt Lake valley (Sandy, Utah), working as a delivery drive as a teenager. Before Wayne had even graduated he knew he wanted to join the military. In January 1988 he entered the Army delayed entry program and was assigned to C company 321st Engineer BN reserve.
Wayne graduated Alta High School in 1989 and three weeks later reported to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for boot camp and Combat Engineer School. After completion of training he was assigned back to C company 321st until November 1989, when he returned to active duty assigned to B company 5th Engineer BN (Combat), Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. In August 1990 5th Engineer BN deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of the 20th Engineer Brigade (Airborne) in support of the 1st Brigade, 24 ID (mechanized) in support of operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm.
In September 1992 Wayne was assigned to B Company 2nd Engineer BN (Combat) (Mechanized) 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Giant Korea. After completing his active duty contract Wayne returned to Utah as a reservist assigned once again to C Company 321st Engineer Battalion (Combat). In March of 1995 Wayne returned to active duty Assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Company 10th Engineer BN (Combat) (Mechanized), Fort Stuart, Georgia until being discharged in August 1996. Wayne returned home to Utah where he worked as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator.
In June 2000 Wayne enlisted in the Navy Reserve as an Equipment Operator assigned to Naval Mobil Construction Battalion 17 Detachment 1417 Fort Douglas, Utah. August 2004 he deployed as part of the NMCB 17 Air Detachment and NMCB 7 in support of operation Iraqi Freedom II and III. While deployed Wayne was assigned as the Equipment Section Leading Petty Officer Camp Cooke, Iraq. Later being assigned to 30th Naval Construction Regiment Camp Moreell, Kuwait until released from active duty November 2005. From November 2007 to October 2009 he was again deployed with NMCB 17 to Al Ambar province, Iraq as the Battalion license examiner and convoy support coordinator. After being promoted to Chief Petty Officer in September 2009 Wayne was assigned to Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center Port Hueneme, California where he served until being honorably discharged in March 2013.
In June of 2010 Wayne joined the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps as a Division Officer and Operations Office for the Great Salt Lake Division until the recommissioning of the Division to the Battleship Utah (BB-31) Division in December 2013 when he was assigned as the Executive Officer.
In May 2015 to May 2018 Wayne served as Commanding Officer of the Black Eagles Squadron. He is currently assigned as Region Training Officer for Region 15-1.