Mr. Darren Barnes currently serves as the Acting Technical Director, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport. He most recently served as the Deputy Technical Director, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) where he partners with the Technical Director for executive and technical leadership for more than 4,900 civilian and military employees and approximately 4,500 industry partners. In this role, he sets command-wide strategy and manages engineering and business operations for the $2B/yr. portfolio.
Barnes, a senior scientific technical manager (SSTM) since 2016, served as the Department Head for the Electromagnetic & Sensor Systems portfolio, where he was responsible for leadership of Electronic Warfare, Radar Systems, Electromagnetic Environmental Effects, and Chemical Biological Radiological Defense. He also served as the Acting Technical Director for NSWCDD from November 2019 – March 2020 and July - November 2021.
In 2016, Barnes served as the (Acting) Director, Integrated Fires (OPNAV N2/N6F3) for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6). The N2/N6F3 Division managed investments ($23.3B across the FYDP for PB17), training and policy for U.S. Navy integrated fires capabilities, including electronic warfare, cyber, and targeting. He received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award by Vice Adm. Tighe for this assignment.
Barnes has over 28 years of Navy experience, serving in numerous engineering and senior management positions covering a wide range of warfare analysis, systems engineering, C2 and C4I integration efforts. Barnes graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelors in Computer Engineering and Minor in Computer Science, followed by a Master’s in Public Administration from Indiana University. He started his federal civilian service in 1995 at NSWCDD as a computer engineer.