Barbara served as a 1stSgt in the Marine Corps from 1976-1998.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from San Diego State University and worked for a weekly paper in San Marcos as a reporter and columnist.  Barbara earned a Master of Arts in Public History from the University of San Diego and worked as Curator for the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum in Balboa Park.  She served 20 years as the Director of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Command Museum from 1998-2018.  The Museum achieved recertification as a Command Museum during her tenure, and she introduced the education program and expanded the exhibits to include new Vietnam and Modern Era Galleries as well as overseeing and a significant remodel of the museum building.  During her career she rewrote numerous orders and directives to include the Collections Plans and the SOP for the Museum. Barbara also contributed historical articles for the MWR monthly newsletter.  Prior to retirement in 2018, she was the MCRD Historian and the History Inspector for the Commanding Generals Inspection Program.

While on active duty Barbara was an Admin Chief for the Mobilization Processing Center on Camp Pendleton during Desert Storm and has been published in the Marine Corps Reserve magazine.  Volunteer experience includes working with the food pantry at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in La Mesa and serving as Vice President and now President of the San Diego Chapter of the Women Marines Association, CA-2.