News

Reserve doctor becomes educator at Academy for a year

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Once in a lifetime opportunities rarely come up when expected. Some can say that educating the Air Force's future leadership is one of them. This is true for one of the Public Health officers from the 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadron here who is teaching biology, for a year, at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Colorado Springs native, Doctor (Lt. Col.) Leon Barringer, 446th ASTS, is a director of Veterinary Operations for Pfizer Animal Health when he is not on military status.

"Colonel Barringer is the consummate professional," said Col. Karen Winter, commander, 446th ASTS. "I have no doubt his performance at the Academy will enhance people's opinions of Reservists. He will definitely represent 446th ASTS, the 446th Airlift Wing and Air Force Reserve Command admirably."

"I am the first Reservist to take an assignment at the Biology department at USAFA," said Colonel Barringer, who has been with the wing since 2004. "Perhaps the only thing that makes me unique is my willingness to respond to the opportunity. What that might mean for the Reserve component is an opportunity to augment the active duty as deployments occur to the USAFA faculty."

"I met the Reserve liaison officer for Reserve Affairs, Lt. Col. Tony McKenzie five years ago," said Colonel Barringer. "Last fall, there was a projected short fall for military professors in the Biology department. Colonel McKenzie asked me for my resume to see if my training and background could fit what the department was looking for. After the department head evaluated my resume, I was brought in for an interview and a presentation to the faculty."

According to Colonel Winter, his selection came as no surprise.

Colonel Barringer will do very well, said Colonel Winter. His life experiences and multiple deployments as anecdotal information will enhance his lectures and he is an interesting person with an outstanding sense of humor.

Speaking of his sense of humor, Colonel Barringer includes video clips from Monty Python to make it easier for students in the squadron triage class to understand triage points, said Colonel Winter. He teaches the class by popular demand.

Even though Colonel Barringer has never taught biology, he brings a lot of experience to the table, according to Colonel Winter.

Colonel Barringer is a former enlisted U.S. Army Special Forces medic and a former Army Special Forces Public Health officer, said Colonel Winter. His extensive Army experiences as both enlisted and officer along with his Air Force Reserve time gives him a broader perspective than the average Academy instructor.

His experiences as a medic and Public Health officer, which include multiple deployments to Southwest Asia, along with his veterinarian experience make him uniquely qualified to teach, said Colonel Winter.

Colonel Barringer has five sons, which lends itself well to his relating to young people and teaching at their level, said Colonel Winter. One of his sons is at the Academy now which even makes this opportunity more special.

"My son, Cadet 3rd Class Ben Barringer, is in his second year," said Colonel Barringer. "He has been on the Superintendent's List and on the Wings of Green Parachute Team."
The Wings of Green is the prerequisite to becoming a part of the Wings of Blue U.S. Air Force Academy Parachute Team.

"He really enjoys the Academy," said Colonel Barringer. "It is a small community and many of his friends have me as an instructor. He frequently stops by the office to say hello. He is a biology major with aspirations to go to medical school."

Colonel Barringer plans on using this opportunity to get other Reservists from ASTS involved with training the future officers.

"I expect to utilize some of the great Reservists at ASTS to come in and give guest lectures on topics that they have expertise in," said Colonel Barringer. "They can share their deployment experiences to better prepare the cadets for the active duty career that is in front of them."

Overall, the 446th ASTS, 446th AW, the Academy, the Reserve, and his family benefit from his opportunity. Hopefully, there will be more.