Rick Baccus
Army Brigadier General Rick Baccus received a regular Army commission in 1974 as an Infantry Officer through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program and immediately entered active duty.
Education
- 1974 Eastern Michigan University - BS Degree - Mathematics
- 1990 University of Rhode Island - MBA
- 1992 U.S. Army War College
Recent assignments
- Apr 90 - Aug 92, Chief, Plans, Operations, and Military Support Division, State Area Command, Providence, Rhode Island
- Aug 92 - Jun 96, Director of Personnel, State Area Command, Providence, Rhode Island
- Jul 96 - May 99, Supervisory Logistics Management Specialist and Assistant United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island
- Jun 99 - Mar 01, United States Property and Fiscal Officer, National Guard Bureau, with duty at Providence, Rhode Island
- Mar 01 – Dec 02, Commander, 43rd Military Police Brigade, Warwick, Rhode Island
- Mar 02 - Dec 02, Commander, Joint Task Force 160, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Operation Enduring Freedom
Military Decorations and Awards
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal (4 Awards)
- Army Commendation Medal (4 Awards)
- Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards)
- Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (6 Awards)
- National Defense Service Medal (2 Awards)
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Silver Hour Glass and M Device)
- Army Service Ribbon
- Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
- Rhode Island Star (3 Awards)
- Rhode Island Commendation Medal
- Rhode Island Defense Service Medal
- Rhode Island National Guard Service Medal
- Expert Infantryman Badge
- Master Parachutist Badge
- Pathfinder Badge
- ARNG Recruiter Badge
- German Parachutist Badge (Bronze)
- Ranger Tab
- Special Forces Tab
Camp X-Ray
On March 28, 2002, General Baccus took command of Joint Task Force 160 where he was the head of the Military Police at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was removed from his post less than 7 months later. The US Army said General Baccus had been replaced on October 9, 2002, as part of a reorganization of Camp Delta - where prisoners were moved from Camp X-Ray.[2] Major-General Reginald Centracchio told the Washington Post that he stripped General Baccus of his duties as head of military police because he had lost trust and confidence in Baccus as a commander.[3] However, in a Frontline interview that aired on August 27, 2005, General Baccus responded to a question relating to his “being sacked” in this manner:
- Baccus: “Well, first of all, any reports of my being sacked are absolutely untrue. I was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal for my time frame at Guantanamo. I was given an outstanding officer evaluation report upon my leaving. And as you may be aware, Joint Task Force 160 was given the Joint Unit Meritorious Award for their time period in Guantanamo, of which I was the commander of that joint task force seven out of the nine months in the period of time of the award. So to say that I was sacked, I think, is a falsified impression placed in the press by the usual "unnamed sources" that refuse to come forward. ...”.
- Baccus:” …Within several days after I left, that’s when they [the Military Intelligence team] floated the first memo about how they wanted to operate differently.”
- Frontline: “And what was that? “
- Baccus: “That is what I read in the [Gen. Randall M.] Schmidt report,[4] but that's the one where they suggested they have other means [by] which to interrogate the detainees. “
- “…The question is whether or not if we do [things allowed by the Schmidt report] to a detainee, are we willing to have somebody else do that to an American? If that's acceptable in our country, then fine. If not, then we need to rethink about what we're doing.”[5]
After General Baccus’ departure from Guantanamo Bay, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld gave the Military Intelligence Team control over the Military Police and all aspects of Camp X-Ray and, later, Camp Delta. Major General Geoffrey Miller was appointed commander.[2]