Emporian and longtime National Guard soldier Steve Harmon is relishing his new role.
Harmon was recently installed as the Kansas Army National Guard’s Command Senior Enlisted Leader. This puts him in charge of professional development, morale, training and welfare for all the state’s Army and Air National Guard enlisted service personnel. He says it’s a great chance to train soldiers for work here and abroad.
Harmon enlisted in the Army as an armored crewman in 1986 as a way to pay for college. He has now served in numerous units in a career now spanning almost 40 years, including First Infantry Division, Fifth Infantry Division, 35th Infantry Division, 40th Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne, Army Central Command and Kansas Army National Guard. Deployments include Afghanistan, Kosovo and Kuwait, and he has a lengthy list of military assignments. He also has an extended list of awards and recognitions like the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Airborne Badge, Combat Action Badge and Order of Saint George or Armor.
A longtime resident and former Emporia city commissioner, Harmon locally has also served as director of outreach and training at Flint Hills Technical College and as associate director of alumni relations at Emporia State University.
