Airman First Class Keigan J. Baker was born on January 14, 1996, in Longview, Washington. He graduated from Mark Morris High School and went on to earn a bachelor of arts in business administration from Eastern Washington University, where he also took part in the ROTC program. Family and friends describe a young man who was fiercely competitive, gifted both athletically and academically and determined to serve.
Keigan enlisted in the Air Force in June 2018. At Basic Military Training he was selected to lead 18 Airmen as an element leader and graduated as an Honor Graduate. He then earned a place in the combat control program, one of the most selective pipelines in the Air Force. At Air Traffic Control School at Keesler Air Force Base he was chosen as enlisted team leader and drove 12 Airmen through seven weeks of demanding physical, academic and simulator training. At Combat Control School he taught four additional classes and mentored 17 teammates through advanced air traffic control scenarios, a measure of both his skill and the trust his instructors placed in him. In December 2019 Keigan and his team earned the scarlet beret of the Special Tactics combat controller.
That month he was assigned to the Special Tactics Training Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Shortly afterward he attended the Special Warfare Pre-Dive Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, followed by the Air Force Combat Dive Course at Naval Support Activity Panama City, Florida. His training also included Airborne School and Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.
On March 19, 2020, during a 2,000-yard surface training swim in St. Andrews Bay as part of the dive course, Keigan went missing and was later found unresponsive. He was 24 years old. An Air Force investigation later found that required safety measures had not been followed during the swim, and the findings led to changes intended to protect the students who would follow him. His decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon, the Air Force Training Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
“Keigan was a person that would pull others to the standard of excellence he held himself to,” his family wrote. “He brought out the best in others around him.” He took great pride in his craft and was determined to honor all those who came before him and gave their lives to protect our freedoms, living by the combat controller’s motto, “First There, That Others May Live.” His brother, Masen, founded the Keigan Baker Memorial Fund, which partners with SOCOM Athlete to provide scholarships, mentorship and preparation courses for young people pursuing careers in special operations.
Keigan is survived by his father and stepmother, Jason and Jaime Baker; his brother, Masen; his mother and stepfather, Renee and Brad Ramey; and many relatives, friends and Special Warfare teammates.
Keigan was a person that would pull others to the standard of excellence he held himself to.
Keigan Baker Memorial Fund
Sources
- AFSOC: Special Tactics Airman involved in fatal swim training incident identified
- Air Force Special Tactics: Honor the Fallen, A1C Keigan Baker
- VA News: #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Keigan Baker
- Air Force Times: Special tactics airman drowned after buddy pair system not followed (Sept. 18, 2020)
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Keigan Baker bio
