Rob Baker attended Aberdeen Senior High School from 1974 to 1978 and was a proud team member of that school's varsity wrestling and football teams. During his high school wrestling tenure, he participated in a program that instilled an ethos of teamwork, personal discipline, and commitment to excellence. Upon graduating from Aberdeen High School, Rob accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, where he graduated in 1982 and was commissioned a lieutenant of Infantry. Throughout his 31 years of service in the Army, Rob served in some unique and rewarding positions. During his first assignment as a lieutenant, he commanded an airborne infantry rifle platoon during the invasion of Grenada that was credited with rescuing 160 American medical students; as a captain, he taught at both the United States Army Infantry School and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom; as a lieutenant colonel, he commanded the Army's first elite Stryker Infantry Battalion, and served as the Deputy Operations Officer for the Army Corps that invaded Iraq in 2003; as a colonel, he commanded an Infantry Brigade for fifteen months in Baghdad, Iraq; as a brigadier general officer, he was the Deputy Director for Middle East Policy on the Joint Staff, and subsequently as the Deputy Commanding General for the 1st Armored Division while deployed to Baghdad; finally, as a major general, he was the commanding general for a Joint Military Task Force in East Africa, responsible for conducting counter terrorism operations. In recognition of his service and accomplishment throughout his distinguished military career, Rob earned numerous awards and decorations, including: Defense Superior Service Medal, 2 awards; Legion of Merit, 2 awards; Bronze Star Medal for Valor; Bronze Star Medal, 4 awards; Combat Infantryman Badge, with star; Master Parachutist Badge; Pathfinder Badge; Ranger Tab; and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge. In August 2013, Rob retired from the U.S. Army and went to work for SOS International LLC located in Reston, Virginia. Today, he is the president of one of their subsidiary companies that specializes in mining and energy enterprises overseas.