Major General Matthew V. Baker is the Commanding General for the 88th Readiness Division, headquartered at Fort Snelling, Minn., and Fort McCoy, Wis. He assumed command on July 30, 2022. He was previously the commander of the 416th Theater Engineer Command, Darien, Ill.
Major General Baker has also served as the Commanding General of the 102nd Training Division, the Deputy Commanding General-Support of the 416th TEC, Chief of Staff of the 416TH TEC, the Commander of the 1st Bde (EN), 102nd Div (MS), the Deputy Commander of the 372nd Engineer Brigade, Fort Snelling Minnesota, and as the Battalion Commander for 389th Engineer Battalion in Dubuque, Iowa. Major General Baker previously served as the Assistant Information Officer, Information Officer, Information Management Officer, and Emergency Operations Center Chief at the 416th Theater Engineer Command in Darien, Illinois.
Maj. Gen. Baker held numerous command and staff positions throughout the United States Army Reserve, including Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Commander of the 233rd Engineer Company in Marseilles, Illinois. Major General Baker also served as Engineer Staff Officer for 38th Infantry Division Detachment in Chicago, Illinois; as Liaison Officer for 404th Rear Operations Center in Machesney Park, Illinois; as Intelligence Officer for 244th Army Liaison Team in Machesney Park, Illinois; as a Task Force Engineer, Task Force Mountain in Bagram, Afghanistan; as Observer Controller Trainer with 85th Training Division in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Major General Baker served as Aide-de-Camp, Executive Officer, and PSO to Major General Heine, the Director of Operations, Iraq Reconstruction Management Office for Multi-National Force Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq.
Major General Baker is a graduate of Basic Combat Training, 11H Advanced Individual Training, the Illinois Military Academy, Officer Candidate School, Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Course, US Army Combined Arms and Services Staff School, US Army Command and Services Staff School, the US Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Illinois- Chicago and a Master’s of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
Major General Baker’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Reserve Components Overseas Ribbon.