Past National President Cortina Barnes of Silver Spring, MD., continues to serve the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States Auxiliary as 2020-2021 Chairman of the National Audit Committee. On the local level, she is 2020-2021 Auxiliary to VFW Post 341 Senior Vice President as well as Auxiliary Community Outreach Chairman and Auxiliary Veterans and Family Support Chairman

In 2010-2011, as National President she led 540,000 members under her theme, "United by Love for Our Veterans and Country.”

A Life Member of Price-Anderson Auxiliary 341 in Washington, D.C., she is eligible through her late father, Benjamin F. Willis, who served in the United States Army from 1944-1946 in the European Theater.

Since joining in 1987, she has served the organization in several capacities, including Auxiliary and Department President, for which she earned 2000-2001 Outstanding President of the Year in her membership group. She has also served several terms as Auxiliary Treasurer, Auxiliary Secretary and Department Secretary.

Barnes retired from the U.S. Federal Government after serving more than 37 years. She spent the majority of her career as a Resource Manager and Program Analyst with the Department of Defense at the Pentagon and at other locations outside of Washington, D.C. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

She is a Life Member of the VFW National Home for Children, a member of Sodality of Our Lady at St. Francis de Sales Church, and the Military Order of the Cooties Auxiliary (MOCA).