WOMEN IN THE KNOW: Abigail Baker 

Author’s note: In its newest 10-part series, called Women In The Know, Saipan Tribune is featuring leading women in higher education every week. Rica Dela Cruz, who will be earning her master’s in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles, was previously featured. This week’s feature is Tinian native Abigail Antolyn Evangelista Baker.

Chief Warrant Officer II Abigail Baker has served in the U.S Army for over 10 years. The 31-year-old Tinian lass recently returned from deployment to Liberia, Africa, in March. 

Abigail Baker 

There was a strong incentive in high school for Baker to join the armed forces. She was an ardent student athlete at Tinian High School and the cadet battalion commander for three years before graduating in 2002. Baker was also the vice president of the National Honor Society and a member of the mock trial team, which represented the islands at the national level. 

“I attribute much of my success to the strict house rules, family oriented gatherings, political gathering experiences, my parents’ sacrifices, beliefs and support for education and youth programs on the island,” she told Saipan Tribune. “The countless people I’ve come across were inspiring and mostly my son, Dre-Joey Anthony, for reasons of a better future, he has my heart. They all in some way embedded pride, good morals and values.”

Baker continued to have a full plate after high school. After graduation, she attended the University of Maryland University College online while serving in Mannheim, Germany and Washington, D.C. In 2008, she earned her A.A. in General Studies and later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. 

“While stationed in D.C., I was able to attend my graduation on the main campus in Maryland. I have plans to pursue a master’s degree with Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, majoring in Business Administration next spring,” she said. 

Baker is expected to graduate in the next three years with an M.B.A. 

From enlisting in 2004 and being an honor graduate out of basic training to earning the title of distinguished honor graduate in 2013 after completing a human resource technician course, Baker has moved up the ranks while in academia. Just this year, Baker was promoted to her current rank.

One of her most notable accomplishments include being nominated to executive assistant to the commander of the White House Communications Agency, traveling with the agency as an airport presidential communications officer and assistance operations noncommissioned-officer.

Entering the service

“The United States Army is one of many options to pursue your education while earning a paycheck,” she said.

A great benefit and advantage to “marrying your career choice and secondary education,” she added, is that it left no burden on her parents, Antonio and Evelyn Evangelista.

“Best of all, it is a three- to six-year contract at most each enlistment. I met with the local recruiting office from Guam during their visit to Tinian late 2003 to weigh my options. A fit test, medical screening, written test, and career counseling and later you are signing about 10 pages of your contract,” she explained. 

Baker said she entered the human resources field because she understands the value of people, whom she considers the No. 1 resource. 

“I meet new people, create systems to make environments better, provide opportunities, and run analysis for better customer service. It takes a people person to run a business!”

Baker’s ultimate goal is to pursue as much education that the Army can provide before she retires.

“Retiring at 40 sounds so good right now!” she said. “I do plan on returning home to teach and possibly run for office and maybe hold the position as the CNMI representative in Washington, D.C., 20 to 30 years down the road.”

Baker calls on young local student to never settle for less. 

“…Enjoy your youth but pause every once in a while and think about the next five years. Reach out and talk to those that have left the rock, returned, and served,” she added. “We can all learn from each other’s life experiences. Best of all there will always be an islander wherever you are.”

Baker is married to James D. Baker and has two sons, Dre-Joey and Zachary Dalton.

Her siblings are also serving in the military: Capt. Adrian Evangelista and SSgt. Atonio Evangelista are stationed in Okinawa, Japan, while Sgt. Aran R. Evangelista serves in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Baker’s family plans to have a reunion this August after seven years of being apart.