From the military to mountain climbing , David Baker ’ 76 thrives on a challenge
David Baker ’ 76 not only excels when pushing himself to the max , but seeks out the opportunities to do so . Whether he is scaling the highest mountain on two different continents , traveling to Antarctica for a mammal and whale expedition , or keeping our troops safe , David thrives when testing his physical and mental limits .
From exploring the Arctic to hiking Mt . Kilimanjaro ( see p . 9 ) to photographing Mt . Kosciusko in New South Wales , Australia ( above ), David Baker understands the value of hard work and testing personal limits to lead a fulfilling life .
Having spent 24 years in the United States Air Force , David learned early in his career how to problem solve , overcome challenges , and push himself beyond his comfort zone . It was in the military where David acquired leadership skills , which would later play a crucial role in delivering intelligence that protected our troops at war .
“ As I moved up through the military ranks , I gained not only more technical experience , but also experience in leading people and managing resources . The military was a good teacher and I was lucky enough to have great supervisors , role models , and mentors .”
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When David left the military , he went into Intelligence , Surveillance , and Reconnaissance ( ISR ) for General Dynamics and was a lead engineer . The purpose of ISR is to aid in the support of rapid and sound decision-making .