Harvell, Kenneth S.
Kenneth S. Harvell was born in the southeast Missouri town of Charleston. He attended elementary and high school in the Charleston system, graduating in 1961. He attended Southeast Missouri State College (SEMO) from 1961 to 1965, completing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. Ken married Nancy Duensing in August 1965, and having received a graduate assistantship to the University of Arkansas, School of Business, entered the University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in the fall of 1965. He completed his MBA in August 1966 and entered the Air Force Officer Training Program (OTS) in October, 1966. Ken completed OTS in January 1967 and was a distinguished graduate. He had been selected for pilot training and was assigned to Vance AFB, Oklahoma. While in Oklahoma, their son Christopher was born. During pilot training, Ken flew T-41, T-37 and T-38 aircraft. He completed pilot training in January 1968 and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) to fly KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft at Blytheville AFB. AK. After completing KC-135 specific training at Castle AFB, CA. then 1st Lieutenant Harvell began flying air refueling missions around the world and as well as standing alert to support the strategic bomber force. During his assignment to Blytheville, their daughter, Andrea was born and he was promoted to captain. In 1971, he was assigned to Nakom Phnom, Thailand, as a QU-22B pilot and instructor flying electronic reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia. Upon returning from Thailand, Captain Harvell was assigned to Wurtsmith AFB, MI, as a B-52H Stratobomber aircraft commander. He upgraded to instructor in less than a year and was selected for the wing staff as the wing flying safety officer. He attended Squadron Officers School (SOS) in January 1975 and was a distinguished graduate. Shortly after returning from SOS, he was nominated for a headquarters position as an Instructional Systems Manager at SAC’s 4235th Instructional Systems Development Squadron, Carswell AFB, TX. During his assignment to the 4235th ,Captain Harvell developed and taught courses on flying, ground, and nuclear safety for SAC officers and NCOs. He and a coworker developed and taught the first chief of safety training course for the Air Force. He also wrote and directed a series of video programs covering major aircraft accidents and the actions necessary to prevent recurrence. These programs were recognized as the best in the Air Force. As a result of his body of work, he was awarded the Air Force Chief of Staff Individual Safety Award in 1977. In January 1978, he was promoted to Major, and in1979 he transferred to the 20th Bomb Squadron at Carswell AFB where he served as a flight commander, instructor, and aircraft commander. He was selected for a staff position at Headquarters SAC in Omaha NE in 1981. As a plans officer in the Plans and Programs Directorate, Bases and Units Division, he coordinated the activities required to base and move SAC’s aircraft and personnel. This included basing for the B-1 bomber and TR-1 Reconnaissance aircraft as well as SAC’s existing fleet of bombers and tankers. He was promoted to Lt. Col. and was selected as Chief of the Bases and Units Division. In 1984 he was assigned to K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI. as commander of the 644th Bomb Squadron flying B-52Hs. He completed his tour as commander and in August of 1985, he was assigned to the 19th Air Division located at Carswell AFB. He served as part of the SAC advanced echelon coordinating bomber and tanker activity in support of US Central Command which would later fight Enduring Freedom in the Middle East. He retired from the USAF in November 1988 after a 22 year career. He and his family live in Fort Worth TX. Lt. Col. Harvell’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, AF Commendation medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Vietnamese Service Medal and Vietnamese Campaign Metal.