Craig Baines
| |
|---|---|
Craig Baines in 2021
| |
| Born | c. 1960s Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ | Royal Canadian Navy[a] |
| Years of service | 1987–2022 |
| Rank | Vice-admiral |
| Commands held |
|
| Awards |
|
Vice-Admiral Craig Alan Baines CMM MSC CD is a retired senior Royal Canadian Navy officer who served as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy from 2021 to 2022.
Baines hails from Saskatchewan and before his military career was a national judo medallist and graduate from the University of Manitoba.[1]
He was appointed Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic in July 2014 [2] before being promoted to Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic in 2017.[3]
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 officerofHMCS Calgary, and in 2007 he was appointed commanding officer of the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Winnipeg.[4]
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.[4]
He became Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy on January 12, 2021.[5] He stood down in May 2022 pending retirement, and retired in late 2022.[6][7]
In October 2022, it was announced that Baines had joined Modest Tree as a strategic advisor, for the company’s efforts in the marine, aerospace and defence industries.[8]
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.[9]
Baines's personal awards and decorations included the following:
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
 |
Order of Military Merit (CMM) |
|
|
Meritorious Service Cross (MSC) |
|
|
Special Service Medal |
|
|
NATO Medal Non-Article 5 |
|
|
Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) |
|
Command Commendation
Media related to Craig Baines at Wikimedia Commons
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy 2021–2022 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic 2017–2021 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic 2014–2017 |
Succeeded by |
|
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Directors of the Naval Service |
|
|
| Chiefs of the Naval Staff |
| |
| Principal Naval Adviser |
| |
| Commanders, Maritime Command |
| |
| Chiefs of the Maritime Staff |
| |
| Commanders of the Royal Canadian Navy |
| |
 | This biographical article related to the military of Canada is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
