Barrett completed Naval Flight training at NAS Pensacola Florida in 1968.

[1] In 1995, he was inducted into the United States Coast Guard Academy hall of fame.

Barrett has testified before Congress several times in regard to narcotics, explosives, and ship scanning technology.

[3] Barrett is married to the former Anne Stokley of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

He is the former father-in-law of Chief Warrant Officer Lonnie Glenn Snowden Jr., USCG (Ret).