Colonel Paul Baker is an experienced intelligence officer, Information Advantage officer, instructor, and Arabic interpreter. He has served across Defence and the National Intelligence Community (NIC) at all levels of command.
He completed his regimental training as a combat engineer troop commander and later served as Intelligence Officer Special Operations Engineer Regiment. He enjoyed numerous specialist intelligence appointments, including commanding 2 Company (Psychological Operations). As Operations Officer 1st Intelligence Battalion (1 Int Bn), he coordinated the preparation of 18 force elements and over 230 soldiers, sailors and aviators deploying to warlike theatres, for which he was awarded a Forces Commander Bronze Commendation.
Colonel Baker twice posted to the Defence School of Intelligence, including as Senior Instructor Land Intelligence; overseeing training from single service enlisted training to joint advanced officer training. He has also twice posted to Army HQ to support Land Intelligence and Information Advantage capability development from designing requirements to delivery through the Integrated Investment Plan.
Returning to 1 Int Bn as Commanding Officer, he prioritised expanded the unit’s resilience program, enabling soldiers, sailors and aviators to ethically apply sensitive tradecraft and be proud of their service. He formed the mounting HQ for numerous operations, including formation level support to the Kabul Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation and Operation COVID-19 ASSIST.
Colonel Baker’s interagency experience began in Special Operations Command, requiring close collaboration with State and Federal Police. He later served in the Australian Signals Directorate as Military Assistant to Lieutenant General John Frewen, Principal Deputy Director-General. Most recently, he was seconded to the Office of National Intelligence as Deputy Director Joint Analysis Team, responsible for preparing CDF and VCDF for NIC agency head engagement, for which he awarded a Chief of Joint Capabilities Gold Commendation.
Colonel Baker deployed as an intelligence analyst to Australia’s theatre headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq; and later Kabul, Afghanistan. He integrated joint, coalition and non-military Information Advantage throughout southern Iraq. He commanded a Special Operations fusion and targeting cell in central Afghanistan. Colonel Baker is also one of Defence’s senior Arabic interpreters. While studying at the Defence Force School of Languages, he developed a keen interest in the Arabic language and Arab culture. He has since lived and studied in Jordon, Egypt and Morocco and deployed as an interpreter between Australian Special Forces and the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service in Baghdad.
Colonel Baker holds a Masters of Military and Defence Studies from the Australian National University, a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of New South Wales and a Diploma in vocational Arabic from the Defence Force School of Languages. When time permits, he enjoys competing in Marathon and Ironman. He has been a passionate advocate and mentor for those participating in Run Army, for which he was awarded a Chief of Army Gold Commendation.
Colonel Baker assumed command of the Joint Training Command on 20 January 2025.
