David Dean Barrett (1892 – February 3, 1977) was an American soldier, a diplomat, and an old Army China hand. Barrett served more than 35 years in the U.S. Army, almost entirely in China. In that period, Barrett was part of the American military experience in China, and played a critical role in the first official contact between the Communist Party of China and the United States government. Notably, he was commander of the U.S. Army Observation Group, also known as the Dixie Mission, to Yan'an, China, in 1944. His involvement in the Dixie Mission cost him promotion to general from colonel when Presidential Envoy Patrick Hurley falsely accused Barrett of undermining his mission to unite the Communists and Nationalists.