FCC Encyclopedia

James Arden Barnett, Jr., Rear Admiral (Ret.), is the Chief of the Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. He is responsible for overseeing FCC activities pertaining to public safety, homeland security, emergency management and disaster preparedness, and represents the Commission on these issues before federal, state, and industry organizations. Chief Barnett served 32 years in the United States Navy and Navy Reserve, retiring in 2008. His last active duty assignments were Deputy Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and Director, Naval Education and Training in the Pentagon. Before coming to the FCC, Chief Barnett was a Senior Research Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, a policy think tank focusing on science and technology issues of importance to the nation, including cyber conflict and cyber security. From 1984 to 2001, Chief Barnett was a senior partner at Mitchell, McNutt and Sams, P.A. in Tupelo, Mississippi with a governmental law practice representing municipalities, counties, law enforcement agencies, schools and local government officials.