Ken Harmon honored with emeritus status

Linda Hazelwood

23 Nov 2022

Ken Harmon, emeritus associate professor, Virginia Tech — Ken Harmon, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering, was honored as a faculty emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Ken Harmon, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of associate professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1991, Harmon served as coordinator of the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) extended campus/distance learning graduate program and of the College of Engineering graduate programs in Northern Virginia. He also served as director of the engineering administration graduate program and of the systems engineering graduate program and served as co-founder and director of the ISE System Performance Laboratory, also located in Falls Church.

In partnership with Virginia Tech’s Division of Continuing and Professional Education, Harmon developed the first contract graduate program, which has offered on-site courses at the National Reconnaissance Office, a federal government agency in Northern Virginia, for 15 years. He recruited and supervised several adjunct faculty who taught courses in the systems engineering and engineering administration graduate programs.

In addition, Harmon developed several new graduate courses and two graduate certificates in technology management and human-system integration, taught more than 2,000 students in nine graduate courses, administered the comprehensive final examination for more than 250 graduate students, and served as an advisor to both graduate and undergraduate students in capstone project courses. He also received more than $2.5 million in funding from grants and projects to provide financial support for many graduate engineering students in Northern Virginia.

Harmon served his profession as a senior member and ongoing contributor to both the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. He served on the INCOSE Corporate Advisory Board, the INCOSE Academic Council, and the IISE Industry Advisory Board, supporting several research working groups and contributing journal articles and conference papers.

Harmon received his bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Wright State University.