Retired effective Sep 23,1999
Major General Robert W. Barrow is the Director of the Joint Staff of the
California National Guard. He is responsible for over twenty diverse functional
program areas that provide operational, service and support assistance to local,
state and federal authorities, and to the California Army and Air National
Guard. As director, he serves as the senior California National Guard officer
responsible to the Adjutant General for insuring operationally trained, equipped
and mission ready forces are provided for Military Support to Civil Authorities
involving emergency response, relief and recovery operations, counterdrug
operations, and terrorism response throughout California. He assumed the
position as Director of the Joint Staff in July 1999.
He was born on March 8, 1942, in Los Angeles, Calif., and raised in Inglewood, Calif. The general graduated from Morningside High School in 1960. He graduated from San Jose State College, in January 1965, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He received a Master of Science degree in systems management, in 1972, and a Master of Science degree in public administration, in 1976, from the University of Southern California. General Barrow's military education includes the Air Command and Staff College, with distinction, in 1979; and the Air War College, in 1982.
General Barrow was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, in 1965, from the Reserve Officer Training Corp program, at San Jose State College. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. In 1967, he completed F-4C Phantom II flight training at both Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and MacDill AFB, Fla. After completing the USAF Survival School at Fairchild AFB, Wash., he attended the Jungle Survival School, at Clark Air Base, in the Philippines.
General Barrow completed 133 combat missions in the F-4C and F-40 fighter aircraft while assigned to the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Ubon, Thailand, from March through December 1967. During his combat tour, he also participated in a joint U.S. Republic of China survival exercise in Taiwan.
From Southeast Asia, he was reassigned to the 36th TFW at Bitburg, Germany, where he flew the F-4D, for the 23rd TFS, and the F-4E for the 525th TFS, until 1971. During this time, he sat both nuclear and air defense alert, was a squadron weapons officer, and assisted in the teaching of the wing bomb school. He received the "Top Gun" award in 1970, while with the 525th TFS, and was the 36th TFW nominee for the James Martin Award, in 1971, for saving an F-4E after a lightning strike inflicted major aircraft damage.
General Barrow joined the California ANG in 1974. Starting as budget officer for the 163rd Tactical Air Support Group at Ontario, he also served as quality control officer, plans officer, and unit security manager. He became an air technician in 1977, as the Group chief of safety, where he served until August 1981, when he was appointed as air commander.
General Barrow served as the deputy commander for operations for four years and then assumed command of the 163rd Tactical Fighter Group, in 1984. In 1985, he became the director of operations at Headquarters, California ANG, in Sacramento. In 1986, he was assigned as chief of staff of the California ANG, where he served until his appointment as deputy chief of staff in 1990. In January 1993, he was appointed to the position of Chief of Staff of the California Air National Guard.
General Barrow is a command pilot. He flew 133 combat missions in the F-4C and F-4D in 1967. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with one bronze oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster, Combat Readiness Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short, Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver oak leaf cluster, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one hourglass device, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
The general's civic affiliations include University of Southern California Alumni Association (Life Member), Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, National Guard Association of California, National Guard Association of the United States, Air War College Alumni Association (Life Member), and the Air Force Association (Life Member).
General Barrow was promoted to and federally recognized as a major general on Sept. 23, 1994.
(Current as of February 2001)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.