Michael Baker was a 2009-2010 International Affairs Fellow (IAF) in residence at the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Baker was based in Washington, DC, and studied African political and maritime security issues. He spent the first portion of his IAF fellowship at the Africa Partnership Station and Africa Union.
As a U.S. Navy foreign area officer, Mr. Baker most recently held the position of branch chief for West Africa engagements, where he was responsible for the development and coordination of all U.S. military capacity-building efforts in West Africa. Previously, he served as the Southeast Asia political-military action officer for the chief of naval operations. From September 2006 to January 2007, he was the U.S. liaison officer to the Turkish Special Forces in Silopi, Turkey, and held eleven posts throughout Northern Iraq, working to improve interagency cooperation and U.S.-Turkish military communication along the Turkey-Iraq border area. Mike is one of the founding members of the U.S. Africa Command, where he served as the desk officer for Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and Mali.
Mr. Baker holds a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MA from Istanbul Bilgi University, as an Olmsted Scholar.
- Experts
- Election 2024
-
Topics
FeaturedIntroduction Over the last several decades, governments have collectively pledged to slow global warming. But despite intensified diplomacy, the world is already facing the consequences of climate…
-
Regions
FeaturedIntroduction Throughout its decades of independence, Myanmar has struggled with military rule, civil war, poor governance, and widespread poverty. A military coup in February 2021 dashed hopes for…
Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland January 31, 2022
-
Explainers
FeaturedDuring the 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised that his administration would make a “historic effort” to reduce long-running racial inequities in health. Tobacco use—the leading cause of p…
Interactive by Olivia Angelino, Thomas J. Bollyky, Elle Ruggiero and Isabella Turilli February 1, 2023 Global Health Program
-
Research & Analysis
Featured
Public Health Threats and Pandemics
More people traveled internationally in 2019 than in any year in history. After COVID spread rapidly throughout the world, though, international travel plummeted, and nations across the world hardene…Book by Edward Alden and Laurie Trautman January 7, 2025
-
Communities
Featured
Webinar with Carolyn Kissane and Irina A. Faskianos April 12, 2023
-
Events
FeaturedThis symposium was created to address the broad spectrum of issues affecting Wall Street and international economics. It was established through the generous support of Council board member Stephen C…
Virtual Event with Emily J. Blanchard, Matthew P. Goodman, David R. Malpass, Elizabeth Rosenberg, Janet Yellen, Michael Froman and Rebecca Patterson October 17, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies
- Related Sites
- More