Harry Howitt, Class of 1964

Harry Howitt, Ph.D., a 1964 Rush-Henrietta graduate, is a retired United States Air Force colonel who has spent his professional career helping others as a clinical psychologist. He enjoyed a 33-year military career, during which he was described as a “superstar leader.”

A Vietnam veteran, Harry was assigned to the Military Advisory Command in Saigon in 1969. During his active military service, he received the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal four times for outstanding performance at a military installation.

A lifetime member of the American Psychological Association, Military Division, Harry earned many other honors, including being named Air Force Psychologist of the Year. He also received the Legion of Merit Medal. This recognized his high level of performance and dedication to the military both as a psychologist and for his leadership while serving as a commander for a Medical Operations Squadron, at the Air Force’s largest Behavioral Medicine Department, and as hospital commander at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. He also served as president of the Air Force Society of Clinical Psychologists.

Since retiring in 2003, Harry has worked full-time at the Joint Military Base, located at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He serves as a behavioral health psychology consultant to all branches of the military, helping airmen, sailors, and soldiers reach their full potential.

Harry is a member of the Men’s Health Network Advisory Board, a distinguished group of professionals who are dedicated to raising public awareness about mental health. As part of his work with the Men’s Health Network, Howitt contributed to a booklet titled, “Your Head: An Owner’s Manual.” The book addresses anxiety, depression, and stress.

The Men’s Health Network is just one of many successful endeavors in which Harry has been involved. As Brig. Gen. Garry Trexler wrote of the airman while recommending him for a promotion, “Everything he touches turns to gold.”

Harry credits Mr. Elliott, Mr. Pruden, Ms. Theofanis, and Mr. Rittenhouse for helping to shape him, his interests, and future success while he was a student at Rush-Henrietta.

Harry lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife, Caroline.