After returning from Vietnam and subsequent discharge from active-duty Barry Pencek attended graduate school at the University of Georgia. That was followed by a career flying helicopters in Iran, and with the Marine Corps Reserve, and flying airplanes with several airlines. The self-described history nerd then retired to a life of writing, tinkering, traveling and winetasting.

After retirement he decided to write a book for his four sons to pass on some common sense and practical advice about personal finance. This idea morphed into The Millennial's Guide to Wealth: Learn About Saving, Investing, Spending and Living While Drinking Beer which earned him a finalist ranking for the 2017 Georgia Author of the Year.

In 2017 he got to attend a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House for Army medic Mike Rose who received the MOH for his gallantry during Operation Tailwind, a mission in Laos in 1970 that Pencek had participated in. By now the writing bug had bitten and the full story of that mission screamed to be told. After five years of research Operation Tailwind: Memoirs of a Secret Battle in a Secret War was released in 2022.

He resides in the Atlanta area with his wife Mary and their wonder-dog Bella. Visit the author’s website at barrypencek.com for more information about Operation Tailwind and other books.