Arthur Barker was born in Anderson, SC, and he graduated from Batesburg-Leesville High School in 1995. Art attended the Illinois Institute of Technology for one year before joining the US Army in 1996. 

Art served in several different assignments during his 20-year Army career. He was assigned to 101st Airborn Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, KY, the 501st MI Brigade element in Gwangju, South Korea, the 902d MI Group element at Ft. Gordon, GA, the 172d Infantry Brigade at Ft. Wainwright, AK, the US Army Intelligence Center of Excellence at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at Fort Lewis, WA, the 650th MI Group element at SHAPE, Belgium, and US Central Command headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, FL. Art has combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and a theater-level deployment to Qatar. Art retired in 2016 at the rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7).

Art has a Bachelor of Science in Security Administration from Southwestern College, KS. Since retirement from the Army, he has worked for Salient CRGT, ABSc, and the Department of Homeland Security. Art is a member of the Loudoun County Post 1177 Honor Guard, and he is also an active volunteer with the Missing in America Project. Art is also an active leader in Group 3 of the Civil Air Patrol's Virginia Wing.

Art resides in Leesburg with his wife and daughter. His son, a member of the US Army Reserves, is currently attending George Mason University.