Jim Baird (American politician)

James Richard Baird (born June 4, 1945) is an American businessman and politician who serves as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's IN's 4th congressional district. Before being elected to Congress, Baird served from 2010 to 2018 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. He previously served as Commissioner for Putnam County, Indiana from 2006 to 2010. Baird was elected to Congress on November 6, 2018.

Military service
Jim Baird served in the ROTC at Purdue University from 1963 to 1965. He attended the Officer Candidate School Class 2-70 at Fort Benning and Jungle Warfare School in Panama from 1969 to 1970, and was commissioned in the Infantry. The United States Army was sending infantry divisions home when Second Lieutenant Baird arrived in Vietnam in 1970. Because of the excess of Infantry officers, he was assigned to the 523rd Transportation Company (Light Truck) at Cha Rang Valley. Baird and the other officers were highly respected by the men because they shared the same risks and burdens.

The truck companies of the 8th Transportation Group delivered cargo along the most heavily ambushed road in Vietnam, QL19, through the Central Highlands in northern II Corps Tactical Zone. The 523rd had five 5-ton gun trucks at the time. The Group Commander considered the 523rd his best truck company and when instructed to send two light truck companies north to I Corps Tactical Zone for the upcoming Laotian Incursion, Operation Lam Son 719, in February through April 1971, he chose to send his best. The 523rd was attached to the 39th Transportation Battalion and stationed at the abandoned Marine Corps base Camp Vandergrift. During the two-and-a-half-month incursion into Laos, the North Vietnamese Army tried to close down the supply route with a total of 23 convoy ambushes. Baird fought in two of the deadliest ambushes of the operation, and lost his left arm during the convoy ambush on March 12, 1971. He earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. In 2012, the 523rd Transportation Company was inducted into the Transportation Corps Hall of Fame for its heroism during Operation Lam Son 719.

Political career
He ran for Putnam County Commissioner in 2006 and defeated the incumbent, Dennis O'Hair, in the primary. Baird represented Marion Township, Greencastle Township, Madison Township, and Clinton Township. He served as Commissioner for the second district until his election to the State House in 2010. He was succeeded by Nancy Fogle. The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime legislative evaluation of 82% in 2017.

2018 General election
Baird ran for Indiana's 4th congressional district in 2018. The seat was vacated by Todd Rokita in his unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate. Baird won the GOP primary on May 8, 2018. He won the election on November 6, 2018.

Committee assignments

 * Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Research and Technology(Ranking Member)
 * '''Subcommittee on Environment
 * Committee on Agriculture
 * Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit
 * Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research

Personal life
Baird's son, Beau, was elected Chairman of the Putnam County Republican Party in March 2017. Beau ran to replace him in the Indiana House of Representatives. Beau won the election on November 6, 2018.

Baird resides in Greencastle, Indiana.