J. Matt Baker

J. Matt Baker is an independent candidate for Virginia's 2nd District who describes himself as a Naval Academy graduate, retired Marine Corps colonel, and grid-modernization engineer. He says he is running on fiscal accountability, defense oversight, and a campaign that takes no PAC money.[1]

Baker graduated from Balboa High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1987, a graduate degree from the University of Maryland in 1988, and a graduate degree from Old Dominion University in 2001.[1] He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1987 to 2015. In his Ballotpedia survey, he says he served 28 years as an infantry officer, commanded 1,200 Marines and Sailors in combat in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, and retired as a colonel in 2015 after commanding the Security Cooperation Group at Fort Story.[1]

Baker lists his profession as engineer and says he has spent the past 11 years modernizing electric power infrastructure for utilities, the military, energy storage companies, and universities.[1] He says he and his wife have lived in Hampton Roads for 14 years and raised three children there.[1]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.