Captain Baughman was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Maryland in College Park and received his commission through Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island in August of 1990. He attended Surface Warfare Officer School followed by the Basic Dive Officer course in Panama City, Florida.

His initial sea tours were aboard USS Papago (ATF 160) in Little Creek Virginia as Supply Officer and USS Scout (MCM 8) in Ingleside Texas as Damage Control Assistant. Scout deployed to Northern Europe in conjunction with exercise Blue Harrier 93 and subsequently conducted a crew swap with USS Patriot (MCM 7) in Sasebo, Japan.

In 1996 he attended Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training at Eglin Air Force Base Florida and Indian Head Maryland and upon completion, received orders as Officer in Charge of EOD Mobile Unit Six Det Two in Ingleside, Texas. Follow-on tours included Operations Officer of EOD Mobile Unit Five in Guam, Operations Officer of EOD Group One in San Diego, and Executive Officer of EOD Mobile Unit Three in San Diego. In 2003 while assigned to EOD Group One, he deployed to Bahrain with Task Force Five Six during the planning and execution phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007 he assumed command of EOD Mobile Unit Five in Guam where he was selected as the 2009 Pacific Fleet recipient of the VADM James B. Stockdale inspirational leadership award.

Following his command tour at EOD Mobile Unit Five he deployed to Iraq as the Deputy Commander of Combined, Joint Task Force Troy, and upon redeployment, assumed duties as EOD Group One Chief Staff Officer. Captain Baughman’s Major Command tours included EOD Group One in 2012 and Task Force Seven Five in Guam in 2017. Following CTF-75, CAPT Baughman was assigned as Deputy Commander at Naval Special Warfare Group One where he facilitated the transition of Naval Special Warfare as the Special Operations Force theater synchronizer for the Indo-Pacific in conjunction with NSW force optimization.

CAPT Baughman’s shore assignments include Flag Aide to Commander, Mine Warfare Command, U.S. Third Fleet, U.S. Fifth Fleet, the Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, and the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center where he is currently assigned as the Vice Commander of the Mine Warfare Commander Battle Staff.

CAPT Baughman is qualified as an EOD Officer, a Master EOD Technician, a Naval Parachutist, and a mixed-gas diving and salvage officer. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and various other personal, unit and service awards.