Ryan Knudson

John Barnett grew up in Louisiana. His family called him by his middle name, Mitch. Here's his older brother, Rodney Barnett.

We talked to Rodney about his younger brother over the phone from his home in central Louisiana. Rodney said that their mother, Vicki, instilled a clear sense of right and wrong in her kids.

We talked to Rodney about his younger brother over the phone from his home in central Louisiana. Rodney said that their mother, Vicki, instilled a clear sense of right and wrong in her kids.

We talked to Rodney about his younger brother over the phone from his home in central Louisiana. Rodney said that their mother, Vicki, instilled a clear sense of right and wrong in her kids.

Rodney remembers one day when they were kids, when Barnett and one of his friends were throwing rocks at an abandoned house, and they got caught.

Rodney remembers one day when they were kids, when Barnett and one of his friends were throwing rocks at an abandoned house, and they got caught.

Rodney remembers one day when they were kids, when Barnett and one of his friends were throwing rocks at an abandoned house, and they got caught.

After high school, Barnett briefly served in the military. He then went on to a job at Rockwell International, a company that helped build space shuttles for NASA. After that, in 1988, he was hired at Boeing, building airplanes. It was a job he was proud of.

After high school, Barnett briefly served in the military. He then went on to a job at Rockwell International, a company that helped build space shuttles for NASA. After that, in 1988, he was hired at Boeing, building airplanes. It was a job he was proud of.

After high school, Barnett briefly served in the military. He then went on to a job at Rockwell International, a company that helped build space shuttles for NASA. After that, in 1988, he was hired at Boeing, building airplanes. It was a job he was proud of.

That's Barnett in 2019, in an interview with the New York Times.

That's Barnett in 2019, in an interview with the New York Times.

That's Barnett in 2019, in an interview with the New York Times.

When Barnett started working at Boeing in the late 1980s, the company had a sterling reputation. There was a popular phrase at the time, if it ain't Boeing, I ain't going. Rodney says the company's high standards were part of what his brother loved about his job. Barnett started his career at the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington, near Seattle.

When Barnett started working at Boeing in the late 1980s, the company had a sterling reputation. There was a popular phrase at the time, if it ain't Boeing, I ain't going. Rodney says the company's high standards were part of what his brother loved about his job. Barnett started his career at the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington, near Seattle.

When Barnett started working at Boeing in the late 1980s, the company had a sterling reputation. There was a popular phrase at the time, if it ain't Boeing, I ain't going. Rodney says the company's high standards were part of what his brother loved about his job. Barnett started his career at the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington, near Seattle.

That's where he got into quality assurance, where his job was to check airplanes for defects.

That's where he got into quality assurance, where his job was to check airplanes for defects.

That's where he got into quality assurance, where his job was to check airplanes for defects.

Over time, Barnett became an expert at the meticulous process of building airplanes and the documentation that goes along with it, which is something that's mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.