Lieutenant Colonel Joel R. Barnes is the Deputy Director of Operations and Instructor for the History Department in the Dean of Faculty at the United States Air Force Academy. His academic interests are American history in the American Civil War, World War II, Vietnam and the Global War on Terror.  He teaches core Military History.

After receiving his commission from the Virginia Military Institute’s Reserve Officer Training Corps, in 2009, he attended the intelligence officer course, graduating in 2010.  Lt Col Barnes has served as an intelligence officer at the tactical, operational and strategic level of warfare deploying in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Global War on Terror Expeditionary, and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.  Lt Col Barnes now serves as an instructor of History at the U.S. Air Force Academy.  He is married to the former Iliana Elizondo and has three amazing children, Isabella, Claire, and James.

Bachelor of Art, United States History, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia (2009)

Master of Art, Intelligence Operations, American Military University, Charles Town, West Virginia (2014)

Master of Art, American History, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont (2016)

Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas (July 2009 – March 2010)

Officer In Charge, Mission Planning Cell, Misawa Air Base, Japan (April 2010 – June 2012)

Assistant Director of Operations, Flight Commander & Mission Director, 301^st Intelligence Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan (June 2012 – March 2014)

Chief, PED Management & ISR Assessments, ISRD, 609^th AOC, Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar (May 2014 – Apr 2015)

Flight Commander & Course Chief, ISR Operators Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas (May 2015 – May 2018)

Deputy Branch Chief, ISR Systems Branch, Air Combat Command Headquaters, Intelligence Directorate, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia (May 2018 – June 2021)

Squadron Officer School Instructor/Director of Operations/Commander’s Action Group, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama (June 2021 – June 2024)

Instructor, History Department, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 2024 – Present)

Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Joint Service Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation medal with one oak leaf cluster

Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters

Meritorious Unit Award

Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with eight oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award

Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star

Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with two service stars

American Civil War

World War II

Vietnam

American Revolutionary War

GWOT

Military History