Commander Raymond Barr

Executive Officer, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41

26 October 2020 Commander Ray “TT” Barr hails from Ellicott City, MD and graduated from George Mason University in 2002, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.  In March 2003, he earned his commission as an Ensign through Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL and earned his “Wings of Gold” as a Naval Flight Officer in 2004.  Following flight school, he reported to the “Flying Eagles” of VFA-122 onboard Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA, where he qualified as a Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) in the F/A-18F Super Hornet.

In August 2005, CDR Barr reported to the “Fighting Checkmates” of VFA-211 onboard NAS Oceana, VA.  He completed back-to-back combat deployments in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM onboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) in 2006 and 2007.  At the completion of his first operational tour, he was selected to attend the prestigious United States Navy Fighter Weapons School or TOPGUN at NAS Fallon, NV.

After earning his TOPGUN patch, CDR Barr reported to Strike Fighter Weapons School, Atlantic (SFWSL) as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor in December 2009.  During his tour at SFWSL he served as the Forward Air Controller (Airborne) Director, as well as the Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance (SCAR) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) Integration Subject Matter Expert (SME).

In June 2011, CDR Barr reported to the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103 as the squadron’s Training Officer.  During this tour, he completed back-to-back combat deployments in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in 2012 and 2013 onboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69).

Upon completion of his Training Officer tour, CDR Barr reported to the “Red Rippers” of VFA-11 in November 2013 where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Administrative Officer, and Maintenance Officer.  During his time with the “Red Rippers,” CDR Barr completed a combat deployment in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in 2015 onboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71).

After departing the “Red Rippers” in April 2016, CDR Barr reported to Special Operations Command, Pacific onboard Camp H.M. Smith, HI, where he served as an Air Operations Officer and eventually Chief of Air Operations (SOJ36).

CDR Barr has accumulated over 2,300 flight hours in the F/A-18F Super Hornet, 582 arrested landings, and has flown 78 combat missions.  His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal (4 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), and Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards).