Lieutenant Colonel Barnes is from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He received his commission following Officer Candidates School in 2008 and completed The Basic School and Logistics Officer Course in 2009. His initial assignment was with Combat Logistics Regiment 35 in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer and participated in Exercise Freedom Banner. In 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a Motor Transport Platoon Commander with Bravo Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3.
Following his first deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Barnes served as the squadron logistics officer at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 (MALS-13) in Yuma, Arizona. In 2012, he again deployed to Afghanistan, this in support of Reset and Reconstitution Operations Group (R4OG), commanding the MAGTF Marshalling Area Company. Upon return from deployment, he continued to serve as the MALS-13 squadron logistics officer until 2014.
In 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Barnes was selected to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio, where he earned a Master of Science in Engineering. Upon graduation in 2016, he served as Deputy Director for Regional Environmental Programs at Marine Corps Installations East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, until 2019.
From 2019 to 2021, he served as the Operations Officer for Combat Logistics Battalion 22, deploying with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit as part of the Special Purpose MAGTF Crisis Response Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF). Following the SPMAGTF deployment, he prepared the battalion and deployed a COVID-19 vaccination site to Pennsylvania in support of Northern Command.
In 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Barnes was selected for the Commandant's logistics fellowship program at Pennsylvania State University, earning a Master of Supply Chain Management with a Professional certificate in Business Analytics. Following the fellowship, he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps Installations & Logistics (I&L) in August 2022 to serve as an action officer within the Logistics Plans, Policy, Operations, and Strategic Mobility Division (LP). He served as the Sustainment Enterprise Planning Team (SUS EPT) Chair, LP Operations Officer, and Section Head for the Logistics Data & Information Technology design and development portfolio.
Lieutenant Colonel Barnes reported to Combat Logistics Battalion 13 in June 2025 to serve as Battalion Commander. He is an Advanced Expeditionary Logistics Instructor and a graduate of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff Colleges. He holds Master’s Degrees in Engineering and Supply Chain Management as well as a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He has been recognized with two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and three Meritorious Service Medals.