Colonel Barson is a board-certified Aerospace Medicine Physician with over 40 years’ experience in Aerospace and Preventive Medicine. His 22 years in the U.S. Army include creating the medical support program for the fielding of the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter and research at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory where he developed a test concept project to use airbags in the AH-1 and AH-64 Attack Helicopters.

He was a Research Exchange Officer at the Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine and was coinventor of a one size fits all helmet system, and safety officer/test subject for testing counterpressure breathing gear for rapid decompressions to 60,000 feet. He has served as U.S. Corps of Cadets Surgeon at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

In 1998 he was the Chief of Preventive Medicine and Senior Physician with the U.S. Support Group in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His final assignment was as the Forces Command Chief of Preventive Medicine for 730,000 U.S. Army soldiers.

Following retirement from the Army he took a position with the Centers for Disease Control in the Division of Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response working the SARS, Monkeypox, and Eczema Vaccinatum responses. His next position was Deputy Regional Flight Surgeon for the FAA Southern Region covering 169,000 airmen and 4,500 FAA Air Traffic Control Specialists. Since retiring from the FAA, he does consulting for pilot medical disability insurance companies, airlines, and the FAA.

He is also involved with the Society for Science as a Grand Award Judge for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and as a Reviewer for the Science Talent Search and a member of the AsMA Scientific Program Committee.