Andrew C. Barry
NASA Pilot
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Andrew C. Barry is a research pilot at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. He flies a number of Gulfstream III variants along with the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a modified Boeing 747SP and the world’s largest airborne astronomical observatory. He is the Gulfstream lead project pilot and SOFIA deputy chief pilot.
Experience
A native of West Redding, Connecticut, Barry began working at NASA Armstrong in 2017 after seven years with the Department of the Interior (DOI) in Boise, Idaho. While there he was assigned as the liaison to the National Science Foundation (NSF) U.S. Antarctic Program where he flew and oversaw “on-ice” flight operations of 10 fixed and rotary wing aircraft in support of science and logistics out of McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Additionally, he supported and flew with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Great Basin Smokejumpers flying Twin Otters across the mountain west supporting interagency firefighting operations. Prior to his work with DOI and NSF, Barry flew for JetBlue Airways for four years on the A320 after separating from active duty in the U.S. Navy in 2006.
During his years of fleet service, Barry flew the T-37A, T-44A, P-3C, NP-3D, C-26A and C-9B accruing more than 5,000 hours as a naval aviator supporting combat and logistics missions worldwide. He retired in 2015 with the rank of commander from the Navy Reserve. His military honors include more than 25 individual, campaign and unit awards, including the Air Medal.
Education
A 1994 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Barry received a Bachelor of Science in oceanography.
Barry volunteers and serves as a Blue and Gold Officer for the U.S. Naval Academy and is a standing member of California’s 25th District Joint Service Congressional Nomination Panel.