Captain Anthony P. Barnes, USN (Ret.)

Captain Anthony P. Barnes, a native of Savannah, Georgia, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 1981, and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in April 1983.

He reported to Patrol Squadron FORTY-NINE, the “World Famous Woodpeckers”, at Jacksonville, Florida in October of that same year.  While assigned to VP–49, he qualified as P–3C Patrol Plane Tactical Coordinator and Mission Commander

In January 1987, as a Lieutenant, he reported to the staff of NAVY RECRUITING AREA THREE at Macon, Georgia, where he served as the Program Manager for Minority Officer and Enlisted Programs.  In October 1989, he reported aboard USS SARATOGA (CV–60) as the Assistant Strike Operations Officer and participated actively in both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  He qualified as Officer of the Deck (In-port and Underway), served as General Quarters Officer of the Deck, and was designated Command Duty Officer (Underway).

In August 1992, Lieutenant Commander Barnes reported to Patrol Squadron TWENTY-TWO, NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii.  While assigned to the “Blue Geese”, he served as Tactics Officer and Training Officer, and deployed to Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia with detachments to Masirah, Oman, and Kadena, Japan.  Due to the disestablishment of VP–22, in October 1993 he reported to Patrol Squadron SEVENTEEN as the Training Officer. In May 1994, he was chosen to serve as Operations Officer for a first ever quad–site deployment. to Diego Garcia; Masirah, Oman; Kadena, Japan; and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  In January 1995, Lieutenant Commander Barnes joined the staff of Commander, Task Force Sixty-Seven (CTF-67), Naples, Italy as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations

Captain Barnes received a Masters Degree in National Security Decision Making and Strategic Studies at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in June 1998.  Reporting to Jacksonville, Florida, in mid-1998 he became the Executive Officer and eventually commanded Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron SIXTEEN.  Captain Barnes’ next assignment was the White House Military Office, where he served as Deputy Director, Presidential Contingency Programs. He was among a very small cadre of military members to direct White House operations during the events of 11 September 2001.

Captain Barnes was selected for Major Command and assigned as the Commander, Navy Recruiting Region CENTRAL in June 2004.  In June 2006, Captain Barnes was assigned to Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, Millington, Tennessee as the Director of Diversity and in June 2007 elevated to the Director of Operations where he made mission in Officer and Enlisted programs each of the 12 months assigned. Captain Barnes served on the staff of the Superintendent of the U. S. Naval Academy as the Chief Diversity Officer and was given the additional assignment of Commanding Officer of the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport Rhode Island. He retired from active duty after 31 years of service in February 2011.

Captain Barnes’ personal decorations include the Presidential Service Badge, The Defense Superior Service Medal, The Legion of Merit (with two gold star), Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star), the Navy Commendation Medal (with three Gold Stars), the Navy Achievement Medal, and various other unit and service awards.