About our Founder
Barney E. “JR” Smith, Jr., MS, SPHR is a strategic senior Human Resources, Workforce Transformation, Executive Coach, and Change Management leader with more than 20 years of experience across federal agencies, private consulting, and mission-driven organizations. He is the Owner of Mission First Workforce Solutions, LLC, where he partners with clients to strengthen leadership capacity, guide organizational change, and build resilient, high-performing workforces.
Previously, JR served as a Senior Program Manager at the National Cancer Institute, leading enterprise workforce engagement, community engagement, and equity initiatives that informed policy and organizational decision-making. He also held senior human capital advisory roles at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and worked as an HR Business Partner at Abt Associates.
JR completed nine years of active-duty service in the U.S. Navy, serving primarily aboard submarines, where he developed a leadership foundation rooted in accountability, precision, and mission focus. He holds a master’s degree in Human Resource Development and is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Our Story
Built on Service - Driven by Purpose
Mission First Workforce Solutions was not born in a boardroom. It was born from a deep sense of duty — the same commitment to mission, people, and excellence that defines military service.
Our founder came from the ranks of those who understand what it means to put the mission first. In the military, you learn quickly that success is never about one person. It is about the team, the preparation, the right people in the right roles, and the unwavering commitment to see it through. When it was time to transition to the civilian world, that mindset came along.
A Gap Worth Closing
After years working at the intersection of government contracting, workforce strategy, and HR operations, one thing became unmistakably clear: the staffing industry was broken in ways that hurt real people.
Candidates were treated like commodities. Clients received volume over value. And the organizations doing the most important work — government contractors, federal agencies, and mission-driven businesses — were left navigating a hiring landscape that too often prioritized speed over fit and profit over people.
Mission First Workforce Solutions was created to change that.
Why We Do What We Do
We believe that every person deserves to be seen, not just screened. Every organization deserves a partner who takes the time to truly understand their mission before recommending a single candidate. And every placement matters — because behind every resume is a person with goals, a family, and a future.
That belief is not just a value statement. It is how we operate, every day.
We bring firsthand knowledge of the environments our clients work in — the regulatory landscape of government contracting, the operational demands of IT and HR functions, the compliance requirements that keep organizations moving. We speak the language of our clients and our candidates because we have lived it.
Mission First, Always
The name is intentional. In the military, the mission comes first — not because people do not matter, but because a clearly defined mission is what gives every person's contribution meaning and direction. We carry that principle into everything we do.
When we work with a client, your mission becomes our mission. When we work with a candidate, helping you find the right opportunity is our mission. We do not stop until the work is done right.
We are not the biggest staffing firm. We do not aim to be. What we aim to be is the most trusted — the partner you call first, the team that delivers, and the organization that never forgets why we started.
Where We Are Going
Mission First Workforce Solutions is growing — expanding our reach across the DMV and beyond, deepening our capabilities in IT services and HR consulting, and building lasting relationships with the organizations and professionals who share our commitment to excellence.
But no matter how far we grow, our foundation will not change. Service before self. People over process. Mission first.
We are glad you are here. Let us get to work.
Mission First Workforce Solutions — Strategic Staffing, Consulting, and Business Solutions for those who demand more than the ordinary.