MELBOURNE, FLA. May 31, 2023 – BRPH, a nationally ranked architecture, engineering and construction firm headquartered in Melbourne, Fla., recently named Casey D. Barnes, formerly with the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP), the client service leader for its growing aerospace and defense markets.
Barnes, a certified master practitioner in economic development (MEDP) and a certified economic developer (CEcD), spent 10 years at OEP where he served as vice president of economic development, managing a $1.1 million budget and a 10-person team. During his tenure, he led the team to win more than 300 projects which created more than 41,000 new jobs and $4.3 billion in capital investment to place Orlando at the top of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas in job growth for four consecutive years (2015-2018). Prior to that, he spent eight years in business development for Enterprise Florida, Inc. where he landed more than 100 projects, creating and retaining more than 22,000 jobs, resulting in $1.8 billion in capital investment.
“This is an exciting time in the aerospace and defense industries, and the opportunities both domestically and internationally are abundant,” said Barnes. “I look forward to leveraging my existing relationships and expertise, as well as exploring new partnerships and development opportunities, to benefit both BRPH and our clients.”
Over the years, Barnes has partnered with aerospace and defense firms including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Embraer, Pratt & Whitney, JetBlue, Piper Aircraft and Signature Flight Support, among many others. While at Enterprise Florida, he served as the state-level project manager for the Embraer Phenom manufacturing and R&D facilities and was responsible for providing location assistance and state/local incentives negotiation/execution to bring the $50 million project to the Melbourne Orlando International Airport in Melbourne, Fla. As project manager for Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control R&D expansion in Orlando, he spearheaded the incentives negotiation process to secure the $50 million construction project. His work with KPMG, a global network of professional firms providing tax advisory services, resulted in the construction of a $450 million, 800,000-square-foot global learning center with a lodge and training/convention center in Orlando.
“We have worked alongside Casey Barnes over the years and seen firsthand the incredible results he’s produced in terms of economic development for Florida and the Central Florida area, particularly with leading aerospace and defense contractors,” said Brian Curtin, CEO and chairman of the board for BRPH. “We are thrilled to have Casey on the BRPH team to help us enhance our service offering and develop opportunities for our current and future clients.”
Barnes currently serves on the Florida Economic Development Council board as vice chair of finance.
He earned a Master of Arts in international affairs from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and French from Roanoke College.
ABOUT BRPH – BRPH is a technically focused, creative AEC firm dedicated to solving clients’ most challenging problems through architecture, engineering, design, interior design, construction and mission solutions. The firm partners with mission-driven clients in the aerospace, defense, manufacturing, commercial, education, entertainment and hospitality markets to identify gaps in their program delivery, then plans, designs, manages and constructs facilities and solutions that get the job done – beautifully and intelligently. Founded in 1964 to support America’s space program, BRPH is consistently ranked among the nation’s top firms and has completed a wide range of projects across the United States and throughout the world. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, BRPH operates regional offices in Orlando; South Florida; Atlanta; Charleston, South Carolina; Huntsville, Alabama; Seattle; Phoenix; and Palmdale, California. For more information, visit brph.com.
