Charles F. Baird
Encyclopedia
Charles F. Baird was United States
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
1966-67; Under Secretary of the Navy
1967-69; and Chief Executive Officer
of Inco Ltd. 1977-87.
in 1922. He attended Middlebury College
, graduating in 1944. Upon graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps
, serving in that capacity during World War II
and the Korean War
.
Upon leaving the Marine Corps, Baird joined Standard Oil of New Jersey, rising through the ranks to become an executive with postings in London
and Paris
.
President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson
nominated Baird as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
and he held that office from March 7, 1966 until August 1, 1967. In 1967, President Johnson nominated Baird as Under Secretary of the Navy
and Baird held that post from August 1, 1967 until January 20, 1969.
Upon leaving government service in 1969, Baird joined Inco Ltd., working as an executive in New York City
and Toronto
. From 1977 to 1987, he was INCO's CEO.
Baird served on the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University
from 1976 to 1982, and in 1986, Bucknell gave Baird an honorary degree
. His alma mater, Middlebury College had similarly conferred an honorary degree on Baird in 1984. At various points, Baird served on the Board of Directors
of Aetna
, the Bank of Montreal
, the Logistics Management Institute, and the Marine Corps University
Foundation.
A long time player of platform tennis, he won several Seniors championships, and was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992.
Upon retiring from INCO, Baird settled in Bethesda, Maryland
. There, he was a member of the Center for Naval Analyses
, serving as Board chairman from 1992 to 1997. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
.
After a struggle with Alzheimer's disease
, Baird died on December 26, 2009, at his home in Skillman, New Jersey
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
1966-67; Under Secretary of the Navy
Under Secretary of the Navy
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy ....
1967-69; and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Inco Ltd. 1977-87.
Biography
Baird was born in Southampton, New YorkSouthampton (town), New York
The Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
in 1922. He attended Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
, graduating in 1944. Upon graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, serving in that capacity during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Upon leaving the Marine Corps, Baird joined Standard Oil of New Jersey, rising through the ranks to become an executive with postings in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
nominated Baird as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
and he held that office from March 7, 1966 until August 1, 1967. In 1967, President Johnson nominated Baird as Under Secretary of the Navy
Under Secretary of the Navy
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy ....
and Baird held that post from August 1, 1967 until January 20, 1969.
Upon leaving government service in 1969, Baird joined Inco Ltd., working as an executive in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. From 1977 to 1987, he was INCO's CEO.
Baird served on the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
from 1976 to 1982, and in 1986, Bucknell gave Baird an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
. His alma mater, Middlebury College had similarly conferred an honorary degree on Baird in 1984. At various points, Baird served on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Aetna
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
, the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
, the Logistics Management Institute, and the Marine Corps University
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
Foundation.
A long time player of platform tennis, he won several Seniors championships, and was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992.
Upon retiring from INCO, Baird settled in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. There, he was a member of the Center for Naval Analyses
Center for Naval Analyses
CNA's Center for Naval Analyses is a federally funded research and development center for the Navy and the Marine Corps. It also provides research and analysis services to other military and government agencies to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S...
, serving as Board chairman from 1992 to 1997. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
.
After a struggle with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, Baird died on December 26, 2009, at his home in Skillman, New Jersey
Skillman, New Jersey
Skillman is an unincorporated area within Montgomery Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08558. It is also home to Johnson and Johnson's consumer division.- History :...
.