In Memory of Ken Harmon
It is with great sorrow that we learned that Ken Harmon passed away on Thursday April 2, 2026 in Richmond VA. A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1990, Ken served multiple roles, as a senior researcher working on a US Navy grant, as a coordinator of our department’s (ISE) extended campus/distance learning graduate program and of the College of Engineering graduate programs in Northern Virginia. He primarily served as director of our engineering administration graduate program and since 1997 served as co-founder and co-director of the ISE System Performance Laboratory (SPL), also located in Northern Virginia. I remember as if it were yesterday Ken insisted that we brand our lab and that branding would provide the requisite identity that we needed to promote our programmatic and research efforts.
In partnership with Virginia Tech’s Division of Continuing and Professional Education, Ken developed the first contract graduate program, which has offered on-site courses at the National Reconnaissance Office for fifteen years. Over the years, he recruited and supervised several adjunct faculty (Warren Vaneman, Joe Godfrey, John Geraghty, Michael Deegan, Mario Cardullo) who taught courses in the systems engineering and engineering administration graduate programs.
In addition, Ken 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.
Ken 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.
However, Ken will be remembered for his humanity, humility, and empathy. He was a dear friend and for me personally a true partner, collaborator, and brother. In essence, we together not only established the System Performance Laboratory, but focused on the continuous updating and improvement of both the engineering administration and systems engineering programs. I remember on multiple occasions where we would as a team try to “sell” and promote the capabilities of either our academic programs or of our research lab. Ken was uncanny in being able to approach but also convince potential sponsors or contributors of the value of what we were proposing. We dared to dream of opening new vistas and our approach was to try new and innovative ideas and take action when necessary and ask for forgiveness later.
Most importantly, Ken mentored, inspired and touched many students and many of our colleagues. John Casali remembers him as “true gentleman”. Brian Kleiner stated when Ken retired that he cannot imagine ISE without Ken. Nimish Sheth one of our MS ISE students states “One of the kindest and genuine souls I have ever known-it was good fortune to have been under his guidance and mentorship, to have had the opportunity to learn from him.” Vivek Caroli another MS ISE student was one of the first students that Ken and I mentored who over time became a close friend to Ken and who let me know last week of Ken’s unfortunate passing. It is impossible to describe how Ken has affected all of us. What I can say is that we all are blessed to have had him in our lives and we will always hold him dearly in our hearts. May he rest in peace.
Kostas Triantis
