"Mister" Barrow was stationed at Andrews AFB, Kelly AFB, Pope AFB, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field and Tyndall AFB. He was an active participant in the Cold War, Berlin Crisis, Cuban Crisis, Grenada Crisis and Operation Desert Storm.
As a civilian firefighter, Bob was the fire chief at Fort Lee, Va.; Pope AFB, N.C.; and Eglin AFB, Fla., before retiring as fire chief of Eglin AFB (1984) and as the last chief warrant officer-4 in the Air Force (1992).

Bob touched the lives and careers of many public servants and laypersons, and remained active after retirement. In 2002, he assumed the duties as editor of the Retired Air Force Fire Chiefs' Quarterly Network Newsletter. Bob was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV); past president of the North Carolina Fire Service Instructors Association, a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs; and the Eglin-Hurlburt Firefighters' Group. Chief Barrow was the first guest speaker at the Inaugural Louis F Garland DOD Fire Academy Firefighters Ball in 2003. He was also a staunch Supporter of The Military Firefighter Heritage Foundation. The Foundation will truly miss Chief Barrow's support and help with the Foundation and all out programs.