Bio
Colonel Barry R. Hensley is a native of Hinesville, Georgia and began his Army career at Fort Huachuca Arizona where he served as a Platoon Leader for the 526th Signal Company, 86th Signal Battation. He was then assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo (Honduras) where he served as the Systems Control Officer and Executive Officer. He later returned to Fort Huachuca as the Assistant S-3 of the 86th Signal Battalion and then as a Brigade Engineering Officer for the 11th Signal Brigade. In August 1990, Colonel Hensley deployed on operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM and was responsible for the network management of the Theater's Echelon above Corps (EAC)network.
After graduating from the Signal Officer's Advanced Course in February of 2002, Colonel Hensley was assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE), MacDill AFB, Florida. He assumed command of B Company JCSE deploying on numerous operations to include SOUTHERN WATCH in support of Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) in Kuwait and RESTORE HOPE in support of the JTF-Headquarters in Somalia. Following his command, he served as the Chief of Plans and Engineering.
COL Hensley graduated from the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in June of 1997 where he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He served as the 124th Signal Battalion Operations Officer (S3) and then the Division's Automation Management Officer. He participated in many key exercises that were the enabler for the First Digital Division to include the DAWE, MCS IOT&E, and FBCB2 LUT.
Colonel Hensley was assigned to United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in July of 1999. He served as Enterprise Systems Division Chief responsible for the operations and maintenance of the USSOCOM world-wide SOF C4I network (SCAMPI) which included communications support to Special Operations Forces deployed on operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Colonel Hensley assumed command of the 57th Signal Battalion part of the 3rd Signal Brigade at Fort Hood Texas on 11 July 2002. In January of 2004 he deployed the battalion to Iraq in support the Multi National Corps and the Multi National Force. COL Hensley commanded the 57th Signal Battalion for three years relinquishing command on 9 June 2005.
Colonel Hensley is now serving as the Director of Current Operations (J33) for Joint Task Force - Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO). JTF-GNO directs the operation and defense of the Department of Defense's
Global Information Grid.
Education
He graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1986 with a Bachelor Degree in Information Systems and received a Regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps through the Reserve Officer Training Program. He also holds a Masters Degree in Telecommunications from the University of Colorado and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the National War College.