Rear Adm. Joe Baggett is a native of Wilmington, NC. He enlisted in the Navy in February of 1993. After serving on the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) for a period of four years he applied for, and was accepted, to the Seaman to Admiral commissioning program and received his commission in May of 1998. A 2005 graduate of Old Dominion University, RDML Baggett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a minor in Political Science. He earned a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and is designated as a Joint Qualified Officer.

A career surface warfare officer, his operational tours include USS Klakring (FFG 42) as Damage Control Assistant, USS STOUT (DDG 55) as Fire Control Officer, USS Barry (DDG 52) as Engineering Officer, and USS Anzio (CG 68) as Engineering Officer. He went on to serve as Commanding Officer of USS Truxtun (DDG 103) where he successfully completed a deployment to the Baltics (BALTOPS). As Commanding Officer of USS Monterey (CG 61) he took the ship on her final deployment, serving as Air and missile Defense Commander for the IKE CSG, completing successful operations in the FIFTH, and SIXTH Fleet AORs.

Ashore, he served on the staff of COMUSNAVCENT/ U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain as lead Exercise planner in the Future Plans Center; Lead Requirements Officer for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) requirements officer for the Director of Expeditionary Warfare (OPNAV N95); Operations Officer for the Deployable Training Division on the Joint Staff - J7; Chief of Staff for U.S. 5th Fleet and then Fleeting Up to serve as Maritime Operations Center – Director (MOC-D) for COMUSNAVCENT; Commanding Officer of Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC) in Newport, Rhode Island. He is currently serving in his first Flag assignment as the Vice Director of USCENTCOM’s J5 Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate.

His personal decorations include, (Four) Legion of Merits, (One) Joint Meritorious Service Medals, (Two) Defense Meritorious Service Medal, (Three) Meritorious Service Medals, (Five) Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals, (Five) Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals and multiple unit commendations, to include winning the Battle E during his time in Command of USS Truxtun.

Last Updated: 15 September 2026