Baker Dinner 2025: A Full House, A Grateful Community, A Lasting Legacy

More than 700 intelligence, defense, and national security professionals gathered on Saturday, July 26, for the 40th William Oliver Baker Award Dinner at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The evening celebrated The Hon. William J. Burns, former Director of the CIA, for his extraordinary leadership and enduring contributions to U.S. national security. From start to finish, there was a strong sense of community in the room, one defined by mutual respect, deep purpose, and lasting commitment to the mission.

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Commemorative video courtesy of BAE Systems

Following opening remarks and a 24-themed tribute video that bought both laughter and applause, Ambassador Burns took the stage to deliver heartfelt reflections on his decades of public service.

Program recording courtesy of BlackSky

He spoke candidly about the shifting geopolitical landscape and the urgent need to adapt the intelligence enterprise for a rapidly changing world. Ambassador Burns outlined three defining challenges: strategic competition with formidable adversaries, the transformative power of emerging technologies, and “problems without passports” like the pandemic. 

In closing, he paid tribute to the quiet heroes of the intelligence community: those who serve without fanfare, who uphold their oath with humility, and who protect the nation far from the spotlight.

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Courtesy of L3Harris