A Tennessee State University graduate has been promoted to one of the highest rankings in the United States Navy.
Capt. Stephen D. Barnett, a Columbia native, and 1991 TSU graduate, was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in a ceremony held at Navy Museum in Washington Navy Yard on Jan. 17, the Navy Office of Community Outreach confirmed to FOX 17 News.
Barnett, a naval flight officer with 29 years of service, is the deputy commander on Navy Installations Command. He is one of 22 active duty line and staff corps officers selected for promotion.
During the ceremony, Capt. Barnett re-affirmed his oath of office with Vice Adm. Mary M. Jackson, commander of CNIC.
“It is truly an honor to be selected for promotion and offered the opportunity to continue to lead the sailors and civilians that comprise the best Navy the world has ever seen,” Barnett said.
As deputy commander, Barnett is the second senior military leader at CNIC, where he directly supports the commander, Vice Amd. Mary Jackson, and represents her in her absence. CNIC is responsible for worldwide U.S. Navy shore installation management as the Navy's shore integrator, designing and developing integrated solutions for sustainment and development of Navy shore infrastructure.
Barnett graduated from TSU with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering before earning a Master of Business Administration in 2002 from Troy State University.