Lt. Col. Robert A. Baskette has been appointed professor and chair of aerospace studies and commander of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Detachment 536 at Clarkson University.

He received his bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1992. He was commissioned and began his U.S. Air Force career as a squadron section commander in April 1993. In 2003, he received his master of arts degree in business administration and computer resources and information systems from Webster University, Little Rock AFB, Ark. He continued his education alongside his military career, completing by correspondence his studies with Air Command and Staff College in 2003 and with Air War College in 2008.

Before his post at Clarkson, Baskette trained and evaluated navigators at air bases in the United States. From January 2004 to January 2007, he was stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as assistant director of operations, 37th Airlift Squadron; deputy chief, wing plans and programs, 86th Airlift Wing; and executive officer, A3 Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He then returned stateside for leadership and instructional posts at air bases.

He deployed in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom, most recently in the spring of 2010 to Bagram AB, Afghanistan, where he served as the Tanker/Airlift Control Center liaison to the airfield.

He has received the following military awards and decorations: Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters; Aerial Achievement Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Achievement Medal; Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and the Armed Forces Service Medal.

At Clarkson, Baskette is responsible for recruiting, training, motivating and educating Air Force officer candidates. His detachment conducts pre-commissioning academic, leadership and fitness training for all Potsdam/Canton area AFROTC cadets.