MIDDLEBURG – The U.S. House and Senate both voted to rename the new VA Center on College Drive after Andrew Kenneth Baker, and now it only needs a signature from President Joe Biden to make it official.

“It is so special to see this bill across the finish line during the 117th Congress,” said District 3 Rep. Kat Cammack. “I worked on this project during my time as Deputy Chief of Staff for the district, and to see it finally pass both chambers and head to the president’s desk is an honor.

“I’ve come to know Ms. Tina Baker, Andrew’s widow, over the last decade, and it’s surreal to soon see her husband’s name in huge letters on the front of the building in Middleburg. His distinguished legacy will live on in the community that was such a huge part of who he was. Thank you to Senators Rubio and Scott and all of my Florida colleagues for your support of this effort.”

The clinic’s new name honors Antisubmarine Warfare Chief Andrew Kenneth Baker of Middleburg, Florida who was killed during a SEAL training event when the Trident 615, an H-60 Seahawk, crashed at sea on March 13, 1997.

The House version of the bill honors Chief Baker’s birth year and his decorated career. Chief Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and USS Coral Sea as a Ship’s Serviceman and completed training in Search and Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at NAS Jacksonville, earning his “Wings of Gold.”

Chief Baker then reported to HS-9, serving on the USS Nimitz, then to HS-3, assigned as the Training and Operations Chief.