Photo By Caroline Clauson | Col. Andrew Weaver, former commander of the 88th Air Base Wing, presents Gene Barnett...... read more read more
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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio—Warren Eugene “Gene” Barnett is peeling off the local news clippings and old photos that cover his cubicle walls after just shy of four decades in the 88th Air Base Wing’s Public Affairs Office. Even as he retires from civilian service, the ties he has built not only across time but also between the people and missions surrounding him are growing stronger.
“Just supporting the Air Force, keeping the mission safe and taking care of our Airmen has been very satisfying,” Barnett said. “I always enjoyed coming to work. Who would work 38 years if they didn’t like it?”
Air Force-bound from the beginning, Barnett was born at the former Hunter Air Force Base in Georgia, where his father served on active duty. Barnett’s parents moved the family back to their hometown of Springfield after a blizzard destroyed his father’s chicken farm.
Barnett never strayed far from the Buckeye State, earning straight A’s at Springfield City Schools through high school before winning a track scholarship to Mount Union College. After starting a family and working in various professions, Barnett finished his fine arts degree at Wright State University.
When a Wright-Patterson AFB graphics section chief became Barnett’s client by chance at an unrelated job, his photography, videos, graphic projects and other art mediums impressed the official enough to land the 29-year-old a civilian position with the Air Force.
“My favorite thing about the base is probably the smart, charming and interesting people I work with and worked with for all those years, in graphics and the photographers and videographers,” Barnett said, “but also all the technology that we work on and the environmental pursuits with Huffman Prairie, the honeybees, the diversity of plants and animals, Bass Lake. I hope Wright-Patt continues to grow and expand.”
Barnett served 30 years as a visual information specialist then supervisor on Area B, followed by eight-plus years as a public affairs specialist on Area A, contributing measureless support to Wright-Patterson’s neighbors and commanders and collecting many friends with his own charisma, kindness and convictions.
“After 38 years, you get to know a lot of folks,” Barnett said.
An Ohio native since childhood, Barnett knows Miami Valley history, prairies and people by heart and firsthand experience.
“Gene never met a stranger and always had something informational, funny or simply interesting to say,” said Kim Gaither, public affairs specialist and Barnett’s co-worker and friend of eight years. “This is extremely important in Public Affairs because it is in our career description to ‘foster relationships’ both internally and externally to the base.”
Furthermore, Barnett has meant far more to his community than the official title beside his name, captaining the Springfield Arts Council to sponsor cultural events, contributing to marketing to reestablish downtown Springfield’s farmers market, serving on several city planning boards, saving Frank Lloyd Wright’s historic Westcott House, teaching Leadership Academy classes in Clark County, serving on the Springfield City Schools “Alumni of Distinction” Committee and Habitat for Humanity board to provide affordable housing, coaching youth baseball and basketball, advocating for literacy and recycling, and volunteering with Tecumseh Land Trust to conserve thousands of acres of vital farmland, among many other sacrificial efforts.
“Gene was able to bring resourceful ideas to the table because of his knowledge and understanding of Springfield and the surrounding communities,” Gaither said. “Because of Gene’s work in his community via volunteerism and committee participation, he always knew what was going on and was able to easily connect the dots between local, state and national interests.”
Barnett won the Angel Award from Wright-Patterson AFB in 2005 among other honors for his volunteerism.
The seasoned communicator has channeled his regional connection into welcoming in communities outside the gate, from local university students and robotics team high schoolers to Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and leadership groups, pulling back the curtain to the rich culture, ecology and history of WPAFB.
“The most fulfilling part of my job has been organizing tours. I’m a people person, a social butterfly like my dad used to be,” Barnett said. “I really liked the students. They’re 18 to 22 years old and wide-eyed and ask really good questions. I also enjoyed giving tours to Leadership Dayton because they are all leaders of the Miami Valley, many of them new.”
Barnett’s passions overflowed into his journalism as well. He wrote over 60 articles for the Skywrighter, focusing on community partnerships and environmental efforts within the gates, covering topics from the Adena historical mounds on Area B and summer prairie walks to Arbor Day efforts and an introduction to 88 ABW values.
“It was a great pleasure and honor to work with Gene during the last few years of his career,” said Danielle Trevino, 88th Civil Engineer Group biological scientist who collaborated with him on many Skywrighter stories. “He was thorough, thoughtful and worked hard to educate himself in the subject areas he wrote about. These attributes were always exemplified in his work. He’s already missed!”
As for Barnett’s proudest accomplishment at Wright-Patterson, he recalls leading a process-orientation description team in the 1990s and writing successful performance work statements for two A-76 studies to reduce manpower slots so his office could maintain its civilian positions on base.
“Those were the most exciting moments when we won the studies and could continue working at Wright-Patt,” Barnett said. “Otherwise, we would have all lost our jobs.”
Now, Barnett is saying goodbye to his formal “9 to 5,” but his efforts to build up his community are only expanding. He already has plans to join the Tecumseh Land Trust’s development committe and board of directors for Clark County Warder Literacy Center.
In his extra hours, Barnett looks forward to spending time with his wife, children and four grandchildren and taking a train ride along the Canadian border.
“As a lifelong local resident and longtime base employee, Mr. Barnett is a font of knowledge for historical events and happenings on the base and surrounding communities,” said Brian Duke, his supervisor and 88 ABW Public Affairs operations chief. “He’s received numerous ‘thank you’ notes, messages and letters of appreciation for conducting tours of the installation, and his expertise will be missed. We wish him the best on the next leg of his journey.”
The teammates Barnett leaves behind are confident they will continue to see him cultivating his hometown and caring for his neighbors.
“Gene was easygoing, always helpful and constant as a colleague,” Gaither added. “He was always there and willing and able to help anyone with anything. I wish him all the best as he makes his and other communities stronger — one committee at a time.”
Barnett’s parting words for Wright-Patterson AFB reflect the simple but powerful acts and attitudes he himself exemplified.
“Keep educating yourself, work hard together, strive for diversity and equality, and help keep America safe for everyone,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.02.2022 08:46 |
| Story ID: | 415294 |
| Location: | WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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DoD Civilians
