Major General Max Baratz was confirmed by the Senate as Chief Army Reserve, on May 24, 1994. As Chief, Army Reserve. General Braratz serves as the principal adviser to the Chief of Staff, Army on Reserve matters. As Commander of the United States Army Reserve Command, he controls all Army Reserve forces assigned to the United States Atlantic Command.
General Baratz was born in Aurora, Illinois on November 11,1934. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and an ROTC commission from Syracuse University in 1956. He is a graduate of the Infantry Basic and the Engineer Advanced Courses. He is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College with the 3rd Battalion, 18th Infantry at Fort Riley. He also served as commander of engineer units at the company, battalion, and brigade levels and ultimately as the commander of the 416th Engineer Command. General Baratz served on the Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee from 1984 to 1991 and as Co-Chairman and Chairman from 1987- 1991. He returned to active duty during Desert Storm as Deputy Commanding General for Reserve Affairs at FORSCOM in 1990. The following year he became the Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Reserve Command, a position he held until becoming Acting Commander on January 21, 1994. He served as Acting Chief, Army Reserve, from February 7, 1994, until confirmation.
General Baratz’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal.
Prior to returning to active duty, General Baratz was Executive Vice-President of Billings, Inc. and a member of the Midwest Stock Exchange. He is married to the former Carole Ann Bogage; they have two sons and a daughter.