Quick links+
Longtime lodge officer, journalist and military veteran Bill Harkum has been appointed as a Communications Representative, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
“Bill has a unique skill set that we will use to our advantage in our award winning Communications Department,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “We welcome Bill to our team at Headquarters and look forward to the assistance he will provide our membership.”
Harkum has been a member of the IAM since 2007 and recently served as IAM Local 2424 President at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Under his leadership, the local focused on increasing the number of defense contractors.
Harkum has served as a shop steward, chief shop steward, and negotiator and has actively participated in various campaigns throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and southern New Jersey as an assistant to the district-wide organizer in District 1.
Harkum is a retired member of the U.S. Air Force with more than 24 years of active duty including service with the Maryland Air National Guard. During his military service, he was a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in Charge of Public Affairs for the 175th Wing, leading a team of enlisted military public affairs specialists. Harkum earned the distinction of winning two consecutive Air Force-wide awards for public affairs.
Harkum is a University of Maryland Baltimore County graduate. He also earned a ultra-high-speed film and video techniques certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Harkum is also a graduate of the Baltimore Improv Group program, an independent improv team that performs at local theaters.
Harkum was a finalist for the 2023 Writers Guild Foundation (WGF) Veterans writing program.
Harkum is active with the Disabled American Veterans and the IAM Veterans Services Committee.
