Yarbrough earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Tulane University in May 1979 and, as a Distinguished Military Graduate, was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

Yarbrough's military education includes the Infantry Officer's Basic and Advanced Courses; Air Assault, Airborne, Ranger and Pathfinder Schools; Jumpmaster, Military Freefall and Freefall Jumpmaster Courses; and United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Following attendance at the War College, Brigadier General Yarbrough commanded the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy, from February 1, 2000 through June 23, 2002.

In July 2007, Yarbrough deployed on Operation Iraqi Freedom where he assumed command of the Iraq Assistance Group from Brigadier General Dana J.H.

In July 2008, he assumed command of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.