He served as Director of Medicine from 1969 to 1971. He returned to the Royal Army Medical College on 9 July 1971 as Commandant and Director of Studies. On 5 April 1973, he was appointed Director General Army Medical Services and granted the acting rank of lieutenant-general. He was promoted to lieutenant-general on 29 May 1973. He retired from the British Army on 30 March 1977. Following his retirement from the military, Baird continued his involvement in postgraduate medical education. He was a medical adviser to the Council for Postgraduate Medical Education and deputy director of the British Postgraduate Medical Centre. He retired in 1984. He died on 26 May 2007. His funeral was held at St Stephen's Church, South Dulwich, London on 6 June 2007. Baird was mentioned in dispatches on 13 January 1944 'in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East'. In June 1966, he was appointed Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John (OStJ). In April 1972, he was promoted to Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John (CStJ). In the 1973 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).