Jeff Barnett is a father, husband, military veteran, corporate planner and accomplished author.

Jeff’s parents met in London during World War II. His father John was in the American 8th Air Force. His mother Joan was a British schoolteacher. After the war Jeff’s dad stayed in the Air Force. The family moved around the world like every military family: London (where Jeff was born); Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; San Bernadino, California (where the family welcomed his younger sister); Austin, Texas; Wiesbaden, Germany; and, Oklahoma City.

After Lieutenant Colonel John Barnett retired from the Air Force, he and Joan settled down in Springfield, Massachusetts, his boyhood home. Jeff made friends quickly, eventually becoming vice president of his high school senior class, an honor student, and member of the wrestling team.

In 1968, Jeff entered the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. In college, Jeff majored in history and was active in student government. Jeff was also the cadet commander of Air Force ROTC.

After graduation in 1972, Jeff followed in his father’s footsteps by going straight to Air Force flight school. His first assignment was flying C-130s for the 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron in Little Rock, Arkansas. However, Jeff was seldom home. His squadron deployed to Thailand (where Jeff flew combat sorties over Cambodia), Germany, South Korea, Panama, Turkey, and England. In 1976, Jeff was sent to Frankfurt, Germany to fly DC-9s for the 55th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron. Their primary mission was to transfer American military personnel and their families to hospitals throughout Europe.

Jeff returned to the United States in 1979. He attended the Air Force’s Squadron Officer School, where he was a Distinguished Graduate. He then flew C-130s for the 40th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, adjacent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The wing commander selected Jeff as his executive officer.

Jeff then moved to Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii and worked as a politico-military affairs officer. During this assignment, the Air Force promoted Jeff two years ahead of his peers to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

1986 was an important year for Jeff. Not only did he come to Virginia to work at the Pentagon, he also met his wife Katherine on the Metro. Jeff and Katherine married in 1988. A year later Jeff attended Air War College where he studied economics, politics and national strategy. Upon graduation he came back to the Pentagon to serve as a campaign planner during the first Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm). Based on his accomplishments, he was promoted to Colonel and assigned as the military assistant to the Pentagon’s Director of Net Assessment, the strategic planner for the Secretary of Defense. It was during this assignment that Jeff wrote his first book, Future War. This book eventually went through seven printings and 11,000 copies. The Republic of Korea Air Force translated it for their military colleges.

In 1996, Jeff transferred to Vukovar, Croatia as Chief of Staff for a 6,000 person, multi-national peacekeeping force. A study by the RAND Corporation called the United Nations Transitional Authority in Eastern Slovonia “the most successful peacekeeping mission in UN history.” In addition to his role as Chief of Staff, Jeff was Deputy Chief of Political Affairs and Commander of the United States military element.

Jeff’s final military assignment was Senior Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy. He assisted in negotiations with foreign leaders and was also a member of a select team that removed nuclear missiles and aircraft from unstable nations.

In 1999, following 26 years of distinguished service, Jeff retired from the United States Air Force as a full Colonel. He spent the next four years as a government consultant with Booz-Allen-Hamilton in McLean.

In 2003, Jeff joined Toffler Associates, the international executive advisory firm founded by world-renowned futurist Alvin Toffler. Jeff advised corporate and government leaders on how to lead their organizations in the information age. During this time, Jeff wrote his second book, The Job Box. This book helps young people understand their constantly changing job.

Jeff is very proud that both his children answered the call to service. Marit serves as an Army Doctor at Walter Reed Medical Center. Courtney is currently deployed to Afghanistan as a member of the Air Force 41st Electronic Combat Squadron.

Jeff lives with his wife Katherine in McLean.