COL Peter R. Barajas

COL Barajas assumed duties as Chief of Staff, California Army National Guard on 1 May 2022. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor through OCS at the California Military Academy in 1995. COL Barajas is a Joint Qualified Officer, also branch qualified in Logistics (90A) and Signal (25A).

COL Barajas has completed the Armor Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Signal Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Intermediate Level Education, Joint Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence Staff and Operations Course, Advanced Joint Military Education – Reserve Component Course (JPME II), Battalion and Brigade S6 Officer Course, Reserve Component Theater Sustainment Course, Sustainment Pre-Command Course, Training Institute Pre-Command Course, Joint Logistics Course, Army Acquisition Foundation Course and the U.S. Army War College. His civilian education includes an Associates of Arts in Administration of Justice from Sierra College, a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justices from California State University, Sacramento, a Masters in Business Administration in Information Technology Management from American Military University, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.

COL Barajas’ previous assignments include Tank and Heavy Mortar Platoon Leader for 1-149 AR; Company Commander for 2-160 IN; Signal and Operations Officer (S6, S3) 3rd Brigade, 40th Infantry Division (M); S5 (Civil Affairs); Liaison and Monitoring Team (LMT) OIC, 1-160 IN, Camp Monteith, Kosovo; Network / Emergency Communications Manager, JFHQ-CA; Signal Officer (S6) 1106th TASMG; Operations Officer (S3), 1106th TASMG, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; Director of Resource Management and Director of Personnel and Community Activities, Camp Roberts MTC-H; Assistant Chief of Staff, G6, 40th Infantry Division; Deputy Director, J3, Joint Task Force, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Director, J4, JFHQ-CA; Purchasing and Contracting Branch Chief, USPFO-CA; Director, J6, JFHQ-CA; Commander, DET 1/DET 3, USPFO-CA; and Vendor Threat Mitigation Branch Chief, USCENTCOM, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida.

COL Barajas’ military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device and 20 year Silver Hourglass, Kosovo Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, and the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal for service in the Balkans. He is authorized permanent wear of the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and the Army Superior Unit Award.

COL Barajas is married to the former Kacy Lyn Parker of Sacramento, California. They reside in Sacramento, California.