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News | June 2, 2016

DLA Distribution Susquehanna welcomes new deputy

By DLA Distribution Public Affairs DLA Distribution Public Affairs

In early May, DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pa., welcomed new deputy commander Brent Barnes.

Prior to this assignment, Barnes served as a private consultant providing strategic advice and operational assistance in the leadership and change management arenas of logistics and supply chain operations, supporting commercial industry as well as U.S. governmental agencies.

Prior to his civilian service, Barnes served for more than 24 years in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of colonel.  He began his service in uniform as an infantryman, where he served as a rifle platoon leader and specialty platoon leader.  He subsequently served among five combatant commands in a variety of command and staff positions with expertise in national security affairs and logistics at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels.

Command tours in distribution, at the company level, were with the 25th Infantry Division in the U.S. Pacific Command and United States Army South in the U.S. Southern Command.  At the battalion level, he served as a multi-functional logistics squadron commander in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.  His joint logistician staff officer tours include the U.S. Joint Forces Command and the U.S. European Command.  He also served as the deputy commanding officer for the 45th Sustainment Brigade and the Joint Logistics Command in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  He was subsequently selected to serve as a professor for Leader Development in the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College.  He was then selected to serve as a brigade commander responsible for the recruiting, training, development, and commissioning of U.S. Army lieutenants covering the southeastern U.S. and the island territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

Barnes is a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology as well as a Master of Arts in Administration from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.  He also holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I.  His military education includes the Command and General Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, and Senior Service College. 

Barnes has led organizations that earned the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence, the Supply Excellence Award, a Major Command Safety Excellence Award, the Connelly Cup for Field Feeding, and the National Defense Transportation Association’s Unit of the Year Award, among others.

Barnes’ uniformed decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 bronze service stars), NATO Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and the National Defense Transportation Association’s Officer of the Year Award.