Governor Jerry Brown appointed Brigadier General David Baldwin as the 46th Adjutant General of the California National Guard on April 16, 2011, after recalling him from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan where he served as Deputy Commander of the 101st Airborne Division Tactical Command Post and senior mentor to the Commanding General of the 201st Afghan Army Corps.
But he wasn’t confirmed by the state Senate until March 2012.
A 30-year veteran of the California National Guard and a resident of Fair Oaks, Baldwin received a bachelor of science degree in Medical Microbiology from Stanford University in 1985, a master of public administration from the University of Southern California in 1996, and a master of strategic studies degree from the United States Army War College in 2003. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer’s Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
Baldwin enlisted as a medic in the California Army National Guard in 1982. He was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in 1984. His military assignments include Rifle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Scout Platoon Leader. He made first lieutenant in 1987 and captain three years later. He commanded a rifle company that deployed to the Los Angeles Riots in 1992. He served as aide-de-camp for the Commander, California Army National Guard before being assigned as the Operations Officer and then Executive Officer of 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry.
Baldwin was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2000. A year later, he was commanding the 1st Battalion when it deployed troops to Kuwait in the fall of 2001 during Operation Desert Spring. Following his assignment as a student at the Army War College, Baldwin deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the Civil-Military Operations Officer and then the Executive Officer of Combined Forces Command. He was promoted to colonel in 2004 and in January 2007, he assumed command of the 79th (previously 40th) Infantry Brigade Combat Team, California Army National Guard. Baldwin’s full-time assignments on State Active Duty include Emergency Plans and Operations Officer, Legislative Liaison Officer, and Director, J3. From 2009 until he deployed in early 2010, Baldwin served as the chief of staff of the California National Guard’s Joint Staff.
Baldwin was promoted from colonel to brigadier general upon his appointment by Governor Brown.
Although the Senate vote to confirm Baldwin was unanimous, senators were critical of both the Guard and Baldwin at the hearing. The guard is under multiple investigations, including a scandal that could tally $100 million in fraudulently dispersed money to guardsmen. Baldwin, himself, was questioned by senators about his refusal, as a colonel in 2009, to allow federal auditors access to payroll records during an investigation of alleged improper generals’ pay. He said it was a state matter, not federal, and he had recommended an audit to his boss, Adjutant General William H. Wade II. Two years later, the Sacramento Bee reported that Wade had received $155,000 in improper pay.
The Adjutant General (Military Department website)
Gov. Jerry Brown Picks David Baldwin to Lead California National Guard (by Anthony York, Los Angeles Times)
Brown taps Fair Oaks Colonel to Lead California's Troubled National Guard (by Charles Piller, Sacramento Bee)
Approval of National Guard Head Moves to Full State Senate (by Charles Piller, Sacramento Bee)
California Senate Confirms State Guard Commander (Sacramento Bee)
The Adjutant General, California (National Guard Bureau)
