PENSACOLA, Fla. - Lt. Matthew Baird, a 2007 graduate of McNeil High School in Austin, Texas, is serving in the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit (NORU) with the next generation of U.S. Navy Recruiters.
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| Photo by Ensign Tiffany Savoie, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Baird joined the Navy 15 years ago and will serve as the Officer Programs Officer at Navy Talent Acquisition Group Northeast.
“My grandfather was a quartermaster in the Navy during World War II, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Baird said.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Texas.
“Being a Texan, we learn to be proud of who we are and what we do,” Baird said. "This is something I carried with me into the Navy."
Baird earned a Doctor of Business Administration from Trident International University in March 2025, a Master of Science in Management from Excelsior College in 2020, and a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College in 2019.
Located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, NORU is the Navy’s sole recruiting schoolhouse responsible for the instruction of Enlisted and Officer personnel in professional sales, prospecting techniques, marketing, applicant processing, recruiting terminology, leadership, ethical behavior and activity analysis. It also provides continuum training for the Navy’s Career Recruiting Force and prepares selected leaders for the challenges of operating a Navy Talent Acquisition Group.
Over 3,500 students come from sea duty and shore to attend basic recruiting courses and receive a good dose of public speaking classes to develop communications skills that will help them not just in recruiting but throughout their Naval careers. Students must demonstrate what they learn in the classroom with prepared speeches and perform in a simulated sales environment, where they must help an applicant make an informed, mutually beneficial decision to join the Navy. These steps are critical to ensuring that prospective applicants fully understand what naval service entails and that the Navy receives highly motivated and committed officers and enlisted sailors to serve.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Baird serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
Baird has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I'm most proud of earning my dolphins (submarine warfare qualifications) aboard USS Virginia in 2012,” Baird said.
Baird can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the military has given me a sense of belonging to something bigger than myself,” Baird said.
Baird is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my husband, Kenneth Richards, III, who has supported me through all my career choices,” Baird added.