Seattle Rotary has a legacy of connecting with regional leaders of our Armed Forces. Today we will meet the senior shore-side leader of your Navy: Rear Admiral Stephen D. Barnett, Commander, Navy Region Northwest.RDML Stephen Barnett is a native of Columbia, Tennessee. He is an alumnus of Tennessee State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He is also a graduate of Troy State University in Alabama where he earned his Master of Business Administration.
Admiral Barnett earned his commission as a Naval Officer through Aviation Officer Candidate School. Like my brother (who is retired from the Navy), the Admiral is a P-3 pilot by training and experience.
He and his wife, Naeema, reside in Bremerton where he lives in "the big house" on the Navy Base. That house is a wonderful spot for entertaining and no doubt many in this audience will be invited there in the future to visit with the Barnetts. Admiral Barnett works across the Northwest from his headquarters in Silverdale on the Bangor Submarine Base. The Barnetts were previously stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and they are excited to return to our region. They have two adult children who live in other parts of the country.
He is known in the air by his call sign "BD" for Big Daddy. The nickname was earned when his distinctive voice was identified by an Air Traffic Controller as he flew through Oman in the CENTCOM area of operations. That nickname stuck for this Naval Aviator.
RDML Stephen Barnett joins Seattle 4 Rotary representing the United States Navy with a Military Classification.
