Before returning to Caltech, Barbara Barrett was the 25th Secretary of the Air Force.
Previously, Barbara led business, government, and academic enterprises. She was an executive of two global Fortune 500 companies, Chairman of the Board of The Aerospace Corporation, Chairman of Valley Bank of Arizona, and CEO of the American Management Association. She was Ambassador to Finland, Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and Vice Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board. She taught leadership as a Fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School and was interim President of Thunderbird School of Global Management.
She is a Smithsonian Regent. Earlier, she served on governing boards including RAND, Raytheon, Mayo Clinic, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Exponent Corporation, Horatio Alger Association, and the Space Foundation. She advised eight Defense Secretaries and six US Presidents. She was Senior Advisor to the US Mission to the United Nations, a member of the US-Afghan Women's Council, and President of the International Women's Forum.
Barbara earned her BS, MPA, and JD at Arizona State University. An instrument-rated pilot, she trained and earned certification for space flight. She and Craig own a Montana guest resort where they raise cattle and bison.
