Erich Hernandez-Baquero
Deputy Director of Ground Enterprise Directorate
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
(U) Col Erich Hernandez-Baquero is the Principal Deputy Director of the Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED) at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). As the Senior Materiel Leader, NRO Integrated Ground Enterprise, he leads hundreds of personnel in a wing-level joint organization executing a multi-billion dollar life-cycle acquisition of command & control and data processing systems supporting vital missions for the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. (U) Col Hernandez-Baquero earned his commission in 1994 from the United States Air Force Academy. He has served in a variety of acquisition programs including test and evaluation at the AFRL Propulsion Directorate in Edwards AFB, research & technology projects at the NRO, and one-of-a-kind advanced demonstration programs enabling game-changing intelligence collection capabilities. Col Hernandez-Baquero is also a Regional Affairs Specialist and served as advisor to the Inter-American Defense Board of the Organization of American States.
(U) Education:
Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science, United States Air Force Academy, 1994 Doctorate of Philosophy Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2000 Squadron Office School, 2001 Spanish Joint Command & Staff College, 2008
Master of Science National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 2012
(U) Assignments:
1994-1997 Chief, Technical Development Branch, Propulsion Directorate, AFRL, Edwards AFB, CA
1997-2000 Student, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
2000-2002 Chief, Architecture Division, IMINT Research & Technology, NRO
2002-2007 Chief, Satellite Payload Engineering & Integration, NRO
2007-2008 Student, Spanish Joint Command & Staff College, Madrid, Spain
2008-2011 Advisor, Inter-American Defense Board, Ft. McNair, Washington DC
2011-2012 Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft. McNair, Washington DC
2012-2013 Chief, Payload Division, IMINT, NRO
2013-2017 Deputy Director, IMINT, System Program Office, NRO
2015-2017 Senior Materiel Leader, Electro-Optical Systems, IMINT, NRO
2017-Present Principal Deputy Director, GED, NRO
2017-Present Senior Materiel Leader, NRO Integrated Enterprise, GED, NRO
(U) Major Awards and Decorations:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Honor Graduate, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 2012
Defense Acquisition University Excellence Award, 2012
Director’s Circle Award, NRO, 2004
Outstanding Intelligence Officer of the Year, Air Force, 2004
Company Grade Officer of the Year, NRO, 2002
Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, 2001
Arthur S. Flemming Scientist of the Year Award, 2000
(U) Effective Dates of Promotion:
Second Lieutenant 1994
First Lieutenant 1996
Captain 1998
Major 2004
Lieutenant Colonel 2008
Colonel 2014