Distinguished Alumni Steve Harmon

Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Harmon (BA 93-Political Science; MS 96-College Student Personnel and Administration; BS 08-Instructional Design Technology)

Public Service and Leadership Define a Life of Impact — in Kansas and Beyond

Whether in combat zones or college classrooms, Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Harmon has spent nearly four decades living a life grounded in service, leadership and education.

A 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Harmon has proudly represented Emporia State University throughout his career — in military deployments, community initiatives and the classroom.

Leading with Purpose, Serving the Nation with Honor

Harmon enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986 to fund his college education and began a 38-year military career that included deployments to Afghanistan, Kosovo and Kuwait. He rose through the ranks to become the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Kansas National Guard, overseeing the training, welfare and development of more than 7,000 enlisted soldiers and airmen.

In roles from tank commander to battalion advisor in Afghanistan, Harmon built a reputation for leading with integrity and mentoring the next generation of soldiers. His honors include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and the Combat Action Badge — testament to both battlefield performance and long-term leadership.

Educator. Civic Leader. Innovator.

Alongside his military career, Harmon has dedicated years to advancing education and community life in Kansas. He served in key leadership roles at Emporia State University, Flint Hills Technical College and Butler Community College, where he built training programs, raised scholarship funds and led outreach efforts.

From 2012 to 2016, he served on the Emporia City Commission, bringing the same mission-first mindset to civic leadership. He is also the founder of Freedom Fest, a community event that supports veteran causes and brings families together in honor of service.

An ESU Foundation of Service

Harmon earned three degrees from Emporia State and as a student, he was deeply involved in campus life through ROTC, Student Ambassadors, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Order of Omega and more.

“I truly enjoyed the full-on campus experience,” he said. “ESU was just the right size, and it had a very active campus and very active community. That turned into a career path and a passion for higher education.”

Today, Harmon continues to serve on university boards and volunteers his time to speak to students and support ESU initiatives.