Colonel Bill Barnes, 76, has been a member of the CAF and the HLS since 2019. He served six years in the US Navy as a Radioman at first in Destroyer communications and then as a Technical Controller for the Manned Spacecraft Recovery Force Pacific for two years. He had one tour in Vietnam and fought the war in the South (Mekong Delta) and the North (Gulf of Tonkin). Besides Asia and the Pacific, he served in Central America, Turkey and Europe having sailed across the Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. After his service, hereceived a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science in Health Professions from Southwest Texas State University.  Having worked in IT, Support Services, Division and Assistant Administrator positions he became CEO of three hospitals during his 40-year career in healthcare. He retired twice, once after leaving a hospital and then finally in 2019 after being a consultant for a Management Company.

During his years in the Squadron, he has worked on woodworking projects and as a Docent Trainer for the Museum. He is also the Museum Director and is presently rewriting the Docent Manual, restoring some exhibits in the Museum and building a Santa Chair. As Adjutant he is responsible for maintaining membership records, taking minutes of all meetings, writing letters, incoming and outgoing mail and the ordering of office supplies to list a few responsibilities. He also serves as Santa for our “Santa and the C-47.”

He is a sponsor of our PT-19 and the C-47 “Texas Zephyr” at the Highland Lakes Squadron and the AT-11 at the Los Lobos Squadron in Albuquerque, New Mexico and maintains his membership in the CAF as a Preservation Colonel.