Dublin native Gary Barbee was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel in a Nov. 12, 2021 ceremony at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. The ceremony was presided by Lt. Col. James T. Couch, Commander 10th FLTS.
Lt Col Gary B. Barbee is a member of the 10th Flight Test Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. As the KC-135 Flight Commander he plans and schedules the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center’s $861 million dollar C-135 PDM/BLK45 functional check flight and training operation. Lt Col Barbee assesses the airworthiness and combat operability of C-135 aircraft following depot maintenance and major modifications. Additionally, he is responsible for the recovery of non-airworthy or battle damaged C-135 aircraft from worldwide locations.
Lt Col Barbee entered the Air Force in 1995 as an enlisted member and in 2006 received his commission through Air Force Officer Training School (OTS), Maxwell AFB, AL. He entered the Air Force Reserve in 2005 after four years of active duty service in various combat assignments and seven years with the Boeing Company. He has deployed for combat tours in Prince Sultan Air Base and Al Udeid, Qatar and has flown 122 combat missions in support of operations ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. In the Reserve, Lt Col Barbee has served as a KC-135R/T Instructor/Evaluator FCF Pilot and AFMC KC-135 Command Chief Pilot. Lt Col Barbee is a Command Pilot with more than 2,700 hours in military aircraft.
—Citizen staff report