Celebrating Brian Barfield as the January 2026 Employee of the Month!
Congratulations to Brian Barfield, Building Engineer, for being recognized as the January 2026 Facilities & Campus Operations (F&CO) Employee of the Month! Barfield was nominated by fellow Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center colleagues, Karla Balk, Fitness/Operations Supervisor; Robert Hinzman, Operations Manager; and Olga O’Brien, General Manager.
Often coming in early in the morning and leaving in the evening, Barfield's efforts have not gone unnoticed, and he has consistently been a reliable member of his team. “When problems arise, Brian acts quickly—either fixing the issue himself or making sure the right contractor addresses it efficiently.” Said Balk, “His reliability, initiative, and commitment make him an invaluable part of our team, and the Freedom Center benefits greatly from his hard work and positive attitude.”
One specific example has been during the Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center’s annual week-long maintenance & repair routine, Down Week. Despite this being Barfield's first time as the lead Building Engineer, his incredible leadership, early planning, and ability to effectively coordinate with contractors resulted in it being a huge success. “Brian’s leadership during our recent annual Down Week was exceptional. He planned in advance, coordinated contractors, provided staff with detailed schedules, and ensured all projects were completed smoothly and on time.” Said O’Brien.
Outside of major projects, Barfield's work ethic has also made notable impacts among his colleagues. “The results spoke for themselves: a facility restored and improved, and a team that felt both motivated and proud of the outcome.” Said Hinzman, “Working alongside Brian is not a chore, but a privilege.”
While only being a team member at the Freedom Center for 5 years and less than one year in his new leadership position as Building Engineer, Barfield has demonstrated his incredible leadership skills and has consistently gone above and beyond in his role to support the George Mason community and visitors.
Interested in submitting a George Mason Facilities & Campus Operations Employee of the Month nomination? Check out the new process here!