Lt Col. Chris Baca promoted to the rank of Colonel

KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. – Lt Col. Chris Baca was promoted to the rank of colonel in front of his fellow Guardsmen and family members on November 2, 2018.

Colonel Baca humbly assumed his new rank with a bit of laughter as his children were given the honor of pinning on his new rank. Both of his sons, Kyle and Kameron, pinned his service coat with the silver eagles. The laughter came when they both placed the rank incorrectly on the epaulettes. Rather than having the eagle’s wings go edge to edge of the epaulettes, they placed them on the long side.

Laughing, he said to them, “They go the other way!”

He went on to say, “They are both in ROTC.”

His two daughters, Niko and Hailie, were given the honor of placing the shoulder board rank on his dress shirt.

As the ceremony progressed, he then had a special part for his wife, Tina, who was holding the family bible, and along with Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava, he re-took the oath.

Baca was honored by those who attended his promotion and thanked them. He thanked those who took the chance on him and invested the time to make him the leader he is today. He thanked his mom and dad for instilling a solid foundation based on integrity. He thanked his family for supporting him unconditionally and for the sacrifices they endured.

Lastly, he thanked the Airmen of the Mission Support Group, both officer and enlisted, for their support. He stated that they have set a high standard and praised them for rising to the challenge.

“I am truly humbled by your presence here today. Thank you for taking the time to make my day special,” said Baca.

Baca has spent 28 years in the military, 10 of them enlisted.