Lieutenant Colonel Barnes was commissioned in May 2005.  He received his wings in December 2007 and reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California for initial training in the UH-1N Huey.  

From April 2008 to August 2012, he served in Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, deploying with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  He completed conversion training in the UH-1Y in April 2011.  In August 2012 he reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 as a UH-1Y instructor pilot.

In May 2016 he reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona serving as UH-1Y instructor pilot, standardization officer, and academics department head.  In July 2018 he was selected for transition to the MV-22B Osprey.

In June 2019 he reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, completing transition training in the MV-22B in November 2019.  In February 2021 he deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participating in Operation ALLIES REFUGE in Bahrain.  

In October 2021 he reported to Headquarters, Marine Aircraft Group 26 serving as Executive Officer.  In November 2022 he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE serving in the Commander’s Action Group, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve.  

In August 2023 he reported to Headquarters, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and assumed his current duties in October 2023.

Lieutenant Colonel Barnes has a BS in History from the US Naval Academy and is a distinguished graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College Distance Education Programs.  He is a graduate of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-15 and has accumulated over 3,250 flight hours.  His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 6, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star.