Pete Barlow is a 10th-generation native son of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Born in Rockingham County in 1982, with deep family ties in Page County. Today, Pete lives in Augusta County with his wife Hannah, proudly calling the Valley home.

Pete has spent his career solving complex problems and delivering results in both the public and private sectors. His service spans local, state, federal, and international levels, bringing a unique breadth of experience to the challenges facing Virginia today.

As an Emergency Manager with FEMA (2020-2025), Pete was on the frontlines of some of America's most challenging disasters: oil spills in U.S. waters, California wildfires, Puerto Rico's hurricane recovery, and humanitarian crises in Haiti. He managed a team involved in a $41 billion program restoring infrastructure after natural disasters.

For six years with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Pete negotiated and drafted critical federal policies in partnership with organizations ranging from state wildlife agencies to national advocacy groups, including the NRA. His work brought together diverse interests to protect natural resources while respecting the hunting heritage of local sportsman communities.

Earlier, Pete served a full deployment in the Peace Corps in the Philippines, where he developed the region's first aquaculture program, generating new income streams for rural families. He taught high school biology, led the planting of 3,500 mangrove trees for coastal protection, and immersed himself in the local Tagalog language and culture. He later returned to the same communities with a faith—based NGO after Typhoon Haiyan to support their recovery.

Back home, Pete worked for Virginia State Parks, where he led wildfire suppression, prescribed burns, and sustainable timber harvesting programs. His comprehensive long-term management plan for state park resources remains in use today.

How Pete Contributes to his Community

• Pete was elected Soil and Water Conservation District director for the city of Lexington in 2008. 

• Pete was appointed to the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Community Services Board in 2008.

• Pete is currently serving his second term on the Board for Friends of the Middle River.

• Beyond his public service, Pete founded and serves on the Board of North River Friends, a grassroots conservation group protecting local waterways, including Middle River, South River, and the Shenandoah. 

• As both a scientist and community leader, he understands the critical connection between environmental stewardship and strong rural economies.