Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Barnes received his commission in May 2005. He was designated a Naval Aviator in December 2007 and reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California for initial training in the UH-1N Huey.
From April 2008 to August 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Barnes served in Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369. He deployed with the 31st and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units, completed UH-1Y conversion training in April 2011, and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in November 2011. In August 2012 he reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 for duty as a fleet replacement squadron instructor. He graduated Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-15 in October 2014.
In May 2016 Lieutenant Colonel Barnes reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona for duty as a UH-1Y instructor pilot, serving as Standardization Officer and Academics Department Head. He was selected for transition to the MV-22B Osprey in July 2018.
In June 2019 Lieutenant Colonel Barnes reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina serving as Operations Officer and Director of Safety and Standardization. He completed MV-22B Osprey transition training in November 2019 and deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in February 2021, participating in Operation ALLIES REFUGE.
In October 2021 Lieutenant Colonel Barnes reported to Headquarters, Marine Aircraft Group 26, serving as Group Executive Officer. In November 2022 he deployed to Iraq serving in the Commander’s Action Group, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Upon return from deployment in August 2023, he reported to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina serving as the Air Station Executive Officer and UC-35D Citation pilot.
Lieutenant Colonel Barnes returned to Marine Corps Air Station New River and assumed command of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 in April 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Barnes holds a BS in History from the United States Naval Academy and is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Air War College. He has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours and has held qualifications in the UH-1N/Y, UC-35D, and MV-22B. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.