Brianne Barron

Aviation Analyst

University of Arkansas–Fort Smith
Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, 2022
Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood Education, 2016

CERTIFICATIONS AND RATINGS
Private Pilot—Airplane, single-engine land
Top Secret (TS/SCI) Security Clearance

As an aviation analyst at PAI Consulting (PAI), Ms. Barron uses her aviation expertise and analytical skills to examine and categorize client data. She supports aviation directed studies by evaluating data, organizing findings, and drafting technical studies, other reports, and written documentation. Ms. Barron also uses her organizational skills and experience to support PAI’s clients by tracking and organizing records and other supplemental information.

Ms. Barron began her career by studying early childhood education at the University of Arkansas (UA)–Fort Smith, graduating Summa Cum Laude and Cum Honore. During her studies, Ms. Barron honed her analytical research and writing skills. She conducted research on the development of military children, ultimately publishing and receiving Institutional Research Board approval in 2016. Ms. Barron presented her findings at six conferences across Arkansas, and they were subsequently accepted into The Qualitative Report’s Annual Conference. Additionally, she fulfilled advanced collegiate course requirements as a member of the UA–Fort Smith Honors Program, and self-published a children’s book for military children as the final portion of her senior capstone research thesis.

While pursuing her education, Ms. Barron was a student teacher at Rena and Central Elementaries in Van Buren, Arkansas, as well as Walker Elementary in Springdale, Arkansas. During that period, she student-taught and developed project-based units, interdisciplinary curriculum, and technology-integrated instruction for Pre-K through fourth grade classes. Ms. Barron also taught lower and upper elementary at Fort Smith Montessori School, designed full, instructional summer programs and learning units, and managed the after-school care program. During this time, she also was a lead teacher for a Pre-K special education classrooms and wrote and created goals, individualized instruction, and learning plans for each student to meet their learning needs.

While attending UA–Fort Smith, Ms. Barron was a member of several honor societies. She was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, serving as the society’s publicist in 2013. As publicist, Ms. Barron wrote press releases and coordinated with local media outlets to promote the society’s efforts to support novice teachers, as well as progressive and innovative pedagogical practices for teachers. She also was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, and the UA–Fort Smith Honors International Studies Program.

From August 2017 to May 2019, Ms. Barron worked as a fifth and sixth grade teacher, and primarily taught math and English. In this capacity, she developed and administered lesson plans and tests. Ms. Barron also assigned and graded homework and in-class assignments. She collaborated with parents and members of the faculty to tailor instruction to individual students’ needs and responded to developing issues. Ms. Barron was also a part-time Special Education teacher and drafted and managed a caseload of 15 or more Individualized Education Plans (IEP) each school year. Each IEP was a research-driven document that included personalized goals, learning needs, and strategies for teachers to use in their classrooms.

During this time, Ms. Barron began to serve in the Arkansas Air National Guard. She enlisted in March 2017 as a Mission Intelligence Coordinator (MIC), and enrolled in the 1NOX Intel Analyst Course, graduating in 2018 as a distinguished graduate.

For the Arkansas Air National Guard, Ms. Barron conducted research, developed strategic assessments, and gave briefings on the results of these assessments to a diverse range of audiences, including members of Congress, professors and students, aircrews, and U.S. Air Force commanders. In her daily work environment, she integrated research, analytical, and aviation skills and applied the necessary strategies that provided direct and immediate support to her aircrews. Ms. Barron provided crucial situational awareness to the aircrews, coordinated communications with the deployed, support units in real-time, and assisted with the coordination and organization of complex, foreign airspace.

Upon completing the 1NOX Intel Analyst Course, Ms. Barron served as a MIC and later Intelligence Operations Supervisor (IOS) for the 184th Attack Squadron, 188th Wing. As an IOS, she provided situational awareness at both strategic and tactical levels throughout each mission. Ms. Barron used her strong analytical skills to conduct research, gather intelligence, and maintain knowledge of trends within the Area of Operations (AOR). She communicated relevant information to the remotely-piloted aircraft (RPA) aircrew and other stakeholders, including members of Congress, through briefings, presentations, reports, and other formats based on the background and needs of the audience.
During this time, Ms. Barron also earned a slot as an RPA pilot after completing only 10 flight hours. As an RPA pilot, she currently flies in combat overseas on active-duty status/orders and is thoroughly trained and capable of flying in multiple foreign countries, employing weapons, and maintaining all currency and procedural requirements of General Atomics MQ–9 Reapers. Ms. Barron is a qualified Operations Supervisor, pilot in command (PIC) of a three-person crew, and Officer in Charge of any shift and mission to which she is assigned. She earned a private pilot certificate and is currently working towards earning an instrument rating.

Ms. Barron earned several awards in the Arkansas Air National Guard, including 188th Operations Group (OG) Airman of the Year in 2019 and 188th OG Airman of the First Quarter in 2020. She was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal twice in October 2020 as a MIC for two events in 2019. Ms. Barron was recognized for her timely and vital communications, situational awareness updates, and coordination for aircrews during two intense kinetic strikes against high-value targets. The missions were successful, met the intent of the ground force commander (GFC), and included the use of AGM–114 Hellfire missiles. She also received the Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal in 2021 for her service during Operation Freedom Sentinel, and in Operation Enduring Sentinel, amongst others.