Captain Barns supports the strategy approach at McAllister & Quinn via project management reinforced by a decades long career in the Navy.
Captain Barns earned a B.A. in Political Science from St. Lawrence University in 1975 and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1977 after completing Aviation Officer Candidate School. Designated as a Naval Aviator in 1978, he served as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander for nearly 25 years, culminating in his role as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of two Navy helicopter squadrons and promotion to Captain (O-6). His non-flying assignments included serving as a Flag Aide in Washington, D.C., NATO Southern Region Exercise Coordinator at U.S. European Command in Germany, and earning an M.S. from the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He retired in 2001 as Maritime Surveillance Section Head (N780E) in the Chief of Naval Operations Air Warfare Directorate, overseeing Navy helicopter, P-3/EP-3, MMA, S-3B, E-6B/TACAMO, and UAV programs.
Post-retirement, he joined Progeny Systems Corporation as Director of Aviation and Maritime Surveillance, securing over $100M in program funding. He led Progeny’s SBIR program, establishing it as the Navy’s top strategy performer and securing hundreds of millions in funding. He also managed Progeny’s Legislative Affairs, securing over $500M in congressional funding from 2005 to 2022.
Following Progeny’s acquisition by General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS), he provided Business Development and Program Management Consulting services and Legislative Affairs support, resulting in over $22M in directed congressional adds in FY-24.