Leading Emergency Management the PJ Way

This week we are talking about the Air Force PJ leadership style. Leading a dynamic organization such as an office of emergency management can be challenging. I had the opportunity to Lt.Col Joseph Barnard who worked his way from enlisted to lead the highly trained Air Force Para Jumpers Rescue Team (PJ). The insights that Joseph shares with us in this interview will change your paradigm on leadership. Guest BioBio - Joe Barnard is a retired USAF Lt Colonel. His 33 year military career started in1982 when he joined the Army as infantryman at the age of 17 from his parentshome in Pembroke Pines, FL. After his Army career, which included living in VicenzaItaly for two years, Joe returned to South Florida and worked varying warehouseand delivery driver jobs as well as being a lifeguard atseveral South Florida beaches.In 1988, Joe joined the USAF, 301 st Rescue Squadron atHomestead AFB as a Pararescueman. He remained inthe 301 st through Hurricane Andrew, and helpedfacilitate the unit’s move to Patrick AFB. Joe marriedMeghan in 1991. With a one-year-old son and anotheron the way, in 1997, he took a position as a PararescueInstructor at Kirtland AFB, NM. Joe was qualified toteach and lead all blocks of instruction: Aircraft and Jump Ops, Weapons-Tactics,Technical Rope, C2 and Dirt Medicine. He was also a member of the Special Tacticsand Recovery Specialist (STaRS) Parachute Demonstration Team.With a stern push from a young wife who wanted a better life for her family, in 1998Joe started college and received his bachelor’s degree in 2000 by attending classesevery weekend from 7-5 both Saturday and Sunday, ultimately leading to hiscommission as an officer in February of 2001. Joe was selected out of OTS as the 4thCombat Rescue Officer, a new career field the Air Force created to lead andcommand Pararescueman and SERE specialist. Joe completes his masters degree in2007.His last 15 years as an officer were a blur except for those two tours in Hawaii. Lotsof surfing and SEA travel. When not in the Pacific, multiple deployments presentedcomplex leadership challenges which he took head on. Post 9/11 years werebookend by death of teammates and success in harrowing missions. In the middlewas a tour as the first CRO to command the Pararescue School, where he was firedafter a year. That assignment is a book in itself.During his entire career, Joe unapologetically took on the overwhelming briefcaseattitude of the conventional Air Force with his backpack mentality on behalf of hismission and men. Ultimate career satisfaction came as Joe was selected for and hadtwo amazing years as the 38 th Rescue Squadron Commander. He and his team did itright, pushing forward many progressive training methods that are still in placetoday.As Joe turned 52, and his youngest son was a year away from College. It was time.He had done all he could do. Admittedly, he grew dissatisfied with DoD directionand with the vice grip sequestration and continuing resolution put on the force. Hepurposely retired without fan fair. Fully satisfied that he left it all on the table andenergized to be a capitalist in his next life. But first…A sabbatical at the end of 2016 and throughout 2017 was well deserved. As Joe haddone with his oldest son, he taught his youngest son to skydive and they took acouple of surf trips to Costa Rica and Baja. Once he was in in college, Meghan and Joeput their household belongings in storage and traveled Southeast Asia – Singapore,Bali and Thailand for four months.Back in the states, his job search started in early 2018. “It was fun, I interviewedthem more than they interviewed me. I want my second life to be epic.”Joe settled on a small company that installs wireless infrastructure for Verizon andTMobile. He loves it, its complex. He has daily influence over 32m in revenue, as hequickly took to running the sales pipeline, P&L of three divisions, HR, logistics andall operations. Likely not Joe’s final resting place.“I desire more responsibility, complexity and a more progressive executive team towork with, but I started in a great place for my capitalistic journey. I validated thatmy military leadership traits and problem solving abilities absolutely transfer to afor profit organization. I love every minute of it. Meghan and I have big plans for ourfuture.”Joe and Meghan reside in Neptune Beach, a costal community in Jacksonville FL.Concerned by the high divorce rate and broken families a military life can create.They are developing a program to help young married Special Operation couples notonly stay, but thrive together during and after their service to this great nation.Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephbarnard/Email: [email protected] HST https://www.titanhst.com/