Samantha M. Harris is the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) at the 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois. As part of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program, she oversees prevention, awareness and response to survivors of sexual assault, supports command personnel and other SAPR stakeholders.
Prior to becoming the 182nd's SARC, Ms. Harris worked as a social work inpatient case manager at OSF St. Francis Medical Center. There, she assessed patient’s needs and coordinated referrals upon discharge. She also interned at the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute, where she assisted in training Illinois law enforcement officials on issues related to interpersonal violence.
Ms. Harris completed her bachelor’s degree in social work from Western Illinois University in 2017. She is currently working on her master’s degree in social work with a focus in leadership and social change at the University of Illinois. She is projected to earn her Master of Social Work in December 2023.
Ms. Harris also serves in the Illinois Air National Guard as a C-130H3 navigator with the 169th Airlift Squadron, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois. She enlisted in December 2011 and completed basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 2012. In 2019, she commissioned upon completing Total Force Office Training at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
EDUCATION
2012 USAF Basic Military Training, Air Education and Training Command, Lackland AFB, Texas
2014 Fuels Manager Defense Basic Accounting School, Coggins International, Atlanta, Ga.
2016 Airman Leadership School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Associate of Applied Science, Logistics, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Bachelor of Social Work, Social Work, Western Illinois University, Macomb
2019 Total Force Officer Training, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. December 2011–January 2019, Fuels Specialist; C130H3 Navigator, 182nd Airlift Wing, Ill.
2. January 2017–May 2017, Practicum Student, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute, Macomb, Ill.
3. September 2017–March 2018, Inpatient Case Manager, OSF St Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Ill.
4. January 2019–Present, C130H3 Navigator, 169th Airlift Squadron, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Ill.
5. November 2021–Present, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Illinois Long and Honorable Military Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with “5” device
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2014 Outstanding Airman of the Year, 182nd Logistics Readiness Squadron
2017 Outstanding NCO of the Year, 182nd Logistics Readiness Squadron
2017 Honors College Graduate, Western Illinois University
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (lifetime member)
National Guard Association of Illinois (lifetime member)
SALUTE Veteran National Honor Society member
(Current as of June 2023)