Craig Baines

Vice-Admiral Craig Alan Baines MSC CD[1] is a Royal Canadian Navy officer and Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Craig Baines
Craig Baines in 2021
Bornc. 1960s
Saskatchewan, Canada
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Royal Canadian Navy
Years of service1987–present
RankVice-admiral
Commands held
Awards

Personal

Baines hails from Saskatchewan and before his military career was a national judo medallist and graduate from the University of Manitoba.[2]

Military career

He was appointed Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic in July 2014 [3] before being promoted to Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic in 2017.[4]

He joined Maritime Command in 1987 and completed the Forces Regular Officer Training Program. He served as navigation officer on a number of ships before completing an operations course. In 2004 he served as executive officer of HMCS Calgary, and in 2007 he was appointed commanding officer of the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Winnipeg.[5]

In 2010 he served as the base commander of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. This was followed by a stint as special advisor to the Chief of Defence Staff, after which he became fleet commander of Canadian Fleet Atlantic.[5]

He became Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy on January 12, 2021.[6]

Controversies

Baines apologised after it was reported that he had played golf with General Jonathan Vance while the latter was under investigation for alleged abuse towards female military staff.[7]

Honours and decorations

Baines's personal awards and decorations included the following:


RibbonDescriptionNotes
Order of Military Merit (CMM)
  • Appointed Commander (CMM) on 21 September 2020[8]
Meritorious Service Cross (MSC)
  • Appointed (MSC) on 7 October 2009[9]
  • Military division
  • Received the for his leadership of HMCS Winnipeg during counter-piracy operations.
Special Service Medal
  • with NATO-OTAN Clasp
NATO Medal Non-Article 5
  • with Africa clasp
Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of services

Command Commendation

References
  1. "Meritorious Service Decorations (military division)". The Governor General of Canada. October 7, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  2. "Honorary Degree recipients". University of Manitoba. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. "Atlantic navy fleet gets new commander". The Chronicle Herald. July 12, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  4. "Royal Canadian Navy welcomes new commander of its East Coast fleet". GlobalNews. September 1, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  5. "Rear-Admiral Craig Baines, MSC, CD". Royal Canadian Navy. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  6. "Vice-Admiral Craig Baines takes command of Royal Canadian Navy". The Chronicle Herald. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  7. "Navy commander apologizes for golfing with former chief of defence staff under military police investigation". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 13, 2021.
  8. "Order of Military Merit List". The Governor General of Canada.
  9. "Meritorious Service Decorations List". The Governor General of Canada.

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