Rear Adm. Baze is a native of San Antonio, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Rice University. He was commissioned through Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1990 and designated a Naval Aviator in 1992.

He deployed multiple times flying the SH-60B in support of detachment and carrier operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom — assigned to HSL 45 in 1992-1996 as a first tour pilot, and HSL 47 in June 2002-Oct. 2004 as Safety and Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization officer, Detachment 5 officer in charge, and squadron maintenance officer in San Diego, California. He served as a flight instructor, operations and administrative officer twice at HSL 41 July 1996-March 1998, and Sept. 2001-June 2002.

Baze was an aide to President, Board of Inspection and Survey in Norfolk, Virginia in April 1998-Aug. 1999. He subsequently received a Master of Science in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, 1999-2001, serving also as an associate fellow on the Chief of Naval Operations’ Strategic Studies Group.

His staff assignments included service on the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. as an action officer in the J-3 Joint Operations Division, and then an aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Jan. 2005-Nov. 2006. He served as deputy director for Aviation Distribution and Head Air Combat Placement Officer at Navy Personnel Command in March 2010-Feb. 2012, and later became director of Aviation Warfare Distribution (PERS-43) Dec. 2016-July 2019 in Millington, Tennessee.

He most recently served as director of Maritime Headquarters (N4/5/8/9) at U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, and U.S. Sixth Fleet.

In command, he led the men and women of HSL 45, USS America (LHA 6), and Expeditionary Strike Group 3.

At HSL 45 in San Diego, Aug. 2007-Feb. 2010, his squadron was awarded the Battle “E” twice, the Golden Wrench Award for Maintenance Excellence, and the Commander, Pacific Fleet Retention Excellence Award for three consecutive years. As Executive and then Commanding Officer of USS America (LHA 6), in July 2012-Aug. 2016, he shepherded America from the early pre-commissioning phase, a U.S. Fourth Fleet deployment, commissioning, first-in-class tests and trials, RIMPAC 2016 Exercise, and readiness for Joint Strike Fighter Developmental Testing-III.

Baze assumed duties as Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel and Commander, Navy Personnel Command in December 2022.

He is authorized to wear the Legion of Merit (four awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), and multiple joint, unit and campaign awards.

Last Updated: 11 January 2024