LtCol Michael B. Harmon was raised in Clifton, Virginia. He graduated from Paul VI High School in Fairfax City, VA and attended the College of Charleston in South Carolina, earning and bachelor's degree in history and his commission in the United States Marines Corps in 2004. After completing The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course, he was assigned to Third Marine Regiment in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii serving in Second Battalion, Third Marines and the Regimental Headquarters Company. LtCol Harmon completed three combat deployments as a company grade officer to Afghanistan and Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a rifle platoon commander, executive officer, and company commander from 2005-2009.
In 2009, LtCol Harmon was assigned as an instructor at The Basic School in Quantico Virginia. He served as the primary instructor in the Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT). LtCol Harmon was selected to serve as Staff Platoon Commander for the Warrant Officer Basic Course in India Company and the Basic Officer Course with Fox Company from 2010-2011. Upon completing a successful tour at the Basic School, LtCol Harmon was selected for resident career level school, attending Expeditionary Warfare School at Marine Corps University in 2012.
LtCol Harmon was then assigned to Seventh Marine Regiment in 29 Palms, California where he served as the Kilo Company Commander and Operations Officer for Third Battalion, Seventh Marines. LtCol Harmon again deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF in 2013 and to and Iraq in 2015 as the SPMAGTF Crisis Response Central Command 15.2 Ground Combat Element Operations Officer in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).
Upon completion of his tour with 7th Marines, LtCol Harmon was selected to attend intermediate level school at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in 2016. He graduated with distinction, earning a master's degree in defense and strategic studies. He was subsequently assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations (PP&O). LtCol Harmon served for three years working for the Director of Operations. While at PP&O, he deployed again as an individual augment to Baghdad, Iraq as the deputy Operations Officer for the Joint Operations Command-Iraq from 2018-2019.
LtCol Harmon departed PP&O for the First Marine Regiment aboard Camp Pendleton, California from 2020-2021 where he served as the Regimental Operations Officer. As Inchon 3 LtCol Harmon supported multinational and service level training exercises.
LtCol Harmon served as the Commanding Officer of Infantry Training Battalion-West from 2021 to 2024, leading efforts to enhance entry-level training for junior Marines. LtCol Harmon currently serves as the Operations Officer at 23d Marine Regiment in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he also attends the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. He assumed the duties as the Regimental Inspector Instructor on May 2025.