James “Chef” Barlow

James “Chef” Barlow is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and pioneering entrepreneur who transformed military training through innovation and leadership. He is the founder and former CEO of Blue Air Training Corp., the first civilian-owned, weaponized training air force, which revolutionized how the U.S. and allied nations train Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) and fighter pilots. Under his leadership, the company executed more than 45,000 airstrikes, trained allied forces across five nations, and saved taxpayers over $1 billion.

Barlow began his Air Force career as a contracting officer in Alaska, building flight hours as a bush pilot before graduating at the top of his flight school class and flying the A-10 Warthog. His callsign “Chef” reflects his entrepreneurial spirit—always having something cooking. In 2008, he founded Blue Air Training, sparking a multi-billion-dollar global industry in contract air services. The company earned national recognition, including multiple appearances on the Seminole 100 list and Inc. magazine’s fastest-growing businesses rankings. In 2022, it merged with Top Aces Inc. to become the world’s leading provider of contract air services.

A Tampa native and Florida State University alumnus, Barlow earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the College of Business in 1995 and was an Air Force ROTC cadet and member of Alpha Tau Omega. He continues to serve on the executive committee of the College of Business Board of Governors.