Richard J.H. Barnes

Richard J.H. Barnes, 95, died peacefully at his home in Northwest Washington on August 11, 2025. A consummate diplomat who dedicated his career to public service, he helped open up new avenues for advancement in space exploration and space technology in the United States and around the world.

Richard Julius Howland Barnes was born in New York on January 16, 1930, and was raised in Sandy Spring, Maryland. He attended Sherwood High School in Olney and graduated from Friends School in Baltimore before matriculating at Dartmouth College, where he majored in Government and was selected to join the Casque and Gauntlet senior society. While at Dartmouth he met the love of his life, Helena Glassey, then a student at Smith College and a fellow government major. Their lively conversations about government and politics enriched their lives and their family's life over many years.

Upon graduation from Dartmouth in 1951, Richard joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Theodore E. Chandler off the coast of Korea until 1953. Looking back on this experience in his later years, he considered it the most crucially formative of his life, because he had no choice but to live with, work with, understand, and get along with people from many different places, backgrounds, and life experiences.

Richard and Helena married in Washington during his home leave in 1952. After his military service ended, he returned to the U.S., earned a Master of Public Administration degree at Harvard, and joined the new Atomic Energy Commission. He moved over to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1961, and soon established himself as an important advocate for international cooperation in space ventures. Decades of NASA service saw him negotiate collaborative projects with Uganda, India, Japan, and many other countries. He was closely involved in the planning of the Apollo-Soyuz mission with the USSR in 1975 as well as Skylab, Spacelab, and the International Space Station.

In 1981, he was named NASA European Representative, and he and Helena moved to Paris, a city that they both loved. Before they returned to Washington in 1985, with the dollar at an all-time high against the French franc, they were able to buy a small apartment in the Marais district of Paris, which they and their family and friends happily visited for decades. Back in D.C., Richard was named NASA's Director of International Affairs, a position he held until his retirement in 1990, when he began work as an international space consultant.

In 1992, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics bestowed its International Cooperation Award on him in recognition of "more than 30 years of … bringing about valuable joint multinational programs to advance space science, applications, and operations worldwide." The American Astronautical Society gave him its Award for the Advancement of International Cooperation in 2013. Out of all of his professional achievements, he took special pride in his record of mentoring and advancing the careers of women in the space field, and in science and technology more generally.

Richard shared his lifelong love of playing tennis with his wife and children, and was an early bike commuter, beginning in 1969. In retirement, Richard and Helena enjoyed time with their grandchildren as well as travel to virtually every corner of the world. Richard remained physically active well into his 80s, with regular walks around the city and workouts at the DC JCC. He kept his mind sharp with regular visits to the Brookings Institution and other DC-area speaker events.

Richard Barnes was cherished by his friends and colleagues for his open, honest manner, his expert command of diplomacy, and his sense of humor. He made everyone feel seen, heard, and appreciated. He lost his beloved wife Helena in 2013, and he is survived by his daughters Elizabeth (George Knapp) and Ann Deschamps, and his son David (Carla Chamberlin); his grandchildren Allison, Isabelle, and Caroline Knapp; Julia Deschamps Mark and Alex Deschamps; and Daniel and Nicholas Barnes Batista; his sister Catherine Brown (William); and his devoted caregiver Melanie Splendora.

Contributions in memory of Richard Barnes may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union, National Public Radio member stations, or Public Broadcasting Service member stations. A memorial service will be held at a later date.