The U.S. Naval War College bids farewell to a pioneering leader and educator after 13 years of serviceNewport, R.I. - Adm. Guillermo E. Barrera, former Commander of the Colombian Navy, has retired after serving for 13 years as the first ever Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Distinguished International Fellow at the U.S. Naval War College (NWC), Nov. 20th.
Selected in 2011, Barrera was the first of four international fellows selected by the CNO and incrementally assigned at NWC to facilitate collaboration and exchange between the U.S. Navy and Allied and partner nations on regional security challenges.
Leveraging 40 years of military experience in the Colombian Navy and his status as an NWC alumnus, Barrera critically shaped the program, enhancing cross-cultural understanding and strategic dialogue among military leaders around the globe.
“Adm. Barrera has been the ultimate gentleman, educator, and leader,” said Robert Winneg, deputy dean, International Programs Department at NWC. “He has truly defined the role of CNO Distinguished International Fellow.”
The CNO Distinguished International Fellows program was conceptualized in 2010 by then Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, who saw that NWC alumni who had risen to command their respective navies could further support the building of global maritime partnerships.
Consequently, he engaged Barrera, then Defense Attaché of Colombia on a one-year assignment in Washington D.C. and facing retirement, in a series of conversations regarding that vision. Roughead believed that, with Barrera’s impressive background and accomplishments, he was uniquely positioned to share lessons learned with students at NWC to help them achieve success when serving their own countries.
Despite serving as Commander of the Colombian Navy and advising former President of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe Velez, on national security strategy, Barrera – a 1993 graduate of NWC – approached the opportunity with humility and reverence for the faculty he would join.
“I was so scared,” Barrera said. “For I was a graduate of the War College, and I knew the extent of knowledge the faculty had. This was not just any faculty.”
But 13 years later, his success is irrefutable.
Encouraged by his classmate and then 53rd president of NWC, Rear Adm. John N. Christenson (2011-2013), Barrera approached the job with enthusiasm and determination, engaging with every deanery and department to determine how he could best be of value to the faculty, the students, and the institution.
His tireless efforts to define the new role led to Barrera being invited to assist the college’s wargaming team and deliver seminar lectures as part of the college’s core academic curriculum. He credits the latter experience with being as beneficial to him as it was to his students.
“The seminars were fantastic because I was just like the students, reading the same readings and asking questions,” Barrera said. “And I could tell them anecdotes about my past as a student at the War College or as a commander or as CNO.”
Barrera also worked to continue defining and expanding the program's scope, ensuring the U.S. Navy could derive maximum advantage from the expertise of other senior international leaders.
“We knew from the beginning that the Fellows were a great tool for building partnerships and that Adm. Barrera was very valuable,” said Thomas Mangold, dean of International Programs at NWC. “He truly exemplified the expression, ‘The appetite comes with eating,’ and in record time, his value, popularity, and demand skyrocketed.”
The CNO Distinguished International Fellows program continued with the addition of retired Adm. Nirmal K. Verma, former Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy and India’s High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Canada in 2015; retired Rear Adm. Lars Saunes, former Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy in 2017; and retired Adm. Tomohisa Takei, former Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in 2017. The leaders started holding weekly meetings to discuss new ideas on engaging with students and bringing additional value to the program.
Today, the Fellows teach and mentor students in NWC’s core classes on national security affairs, joint military operations, strategy and policy, and leadership in the profession of arms, as well as various electives.
They also assist in teaching the college’s International Maritime Staff Operators Course (IMSOC) and the Maritime Security and Governance Staff Course (MSGSC), designed to help international navies and coast guards of various sizes build or effect a maritime strategy and operate efficiently to achieve maritime security. Both courses were developed based on input from the Fellows.
Fellows also advise the CNO, represent NWC’s president during international engagements, and serve as panelists or keynote speakers in a variety of symposia and conferences, including the International Seapower Symposium (ISS) and Regional Alumni Symposia (RAS).
Additionally, they have participated in NWC's Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) courses, U.S. Southern Command’s Panamax and UNITAS exercises and U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.
“These leaders are critical to NWC’s mission of relationship building,” Winneg asserted. “They open doors where others would not be able to.”
Mangold agreed, adding that their cultural and political savvy are simply unparalleled.
“They are true regional experts, security experts” Mangold emphasized. “They know the history, the challenges, the culture; it’s in the fiber of who they are. And they are able to translate that to the college and the Navy and help build bridges.”
The real-world experiences and perspectives of the Fellows are also of great value to NWC students. Following seminar lectures, Fellows can often be observed fielding questions from students about the impacts of an NWC education on their own decision-making as former heads of navies.
“Many of the things I try to help my students with, I have lived through my work,” says Barrera.
Barrera specifically prides himself in passing on his experience of successfully communicating and navigating complex political landscapes using a “people-centric” approach. These skills were crucial for making informed decisions and offering sound advice to government officials as Commander of the Colombian Navy.
“Being a CNO taught me to truly understand the value of every individual,” Barrera explained, adding that listening with empathy rather than cold efficiency is the mark of a truly successful leader.
That philosophy has been the cornerstone of both his leadership and teaching styles, shaping his academic impact and success over the past 13 years. His ability to inspire and connect with others has earned him widespread admiration and affection from the NWC campus community.
“Adm. Barrera is incredibly approachable, warm, and welcoming. Students are always in his office. They just love him,” Mangold stated.
As the door closes on this chapter of his life and opens for another qualified CNO Fellow, Barrera’s advice to his successor is clear: continue fostering collaboration anywhere you can. He emphasizes the importance of seeking encouragement, advice, and insight from those who have walked the path before, as they can provide useful guidance on potential projects that could bring additional value to both the students and the Navy.
Additionally, he looks forward to spending more time with his family and friends, especially enjoying the company of his six grandchildren, who range in age from nine to 22. While he embraces this new chapter joyfully, the experiences and impact of his time at NWC will remain with him for years to come.
Reflecting on the journey, Barrera considers every part of his NWC experience – from student to Distinguished International Fellow - “deeply rewarding and transformative.”
“I am tremendously grateful to have been a part of the great contributions the War College has given to the world,” Barrera stated. “My soul is happy.”