Henry U. Harder

Henry U. Harder (born 1965) is a career officer in the United States Air Force. A longtime member of the Vermont Air National Guard, he served as Vermont's assistant adjutant general for air from 2020 to 2025 and concurrently served as the deputy adjutant general from 2024 to 2025. From 2025 to 2026, he continued as deputy adjutant general. In February 2026, he was chosen by the Vermont General Assembly to succeed Gregory C. Knight as Adjutant General of Vermont.

Early life Henry Upham Harder Jr. was born in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1965, a son of Henry U. Harder Sr. and Calista (Lincoln) Harder. Harder's father was a United States Navy veteran of World War II who became the president and chief executive officer of Chubb & Son. His maternal grandparents were Isabel Rockefeller Lincoln and Frederic W. Lincoln IV. Percy Avery Rockefeller and Isabel Goodrich Stillman were his great-grandparents, and his great-great-grandparents were William Avery Rockefeller Jr. and Almira Geraldine Goodsell.

Harder was educated in Connecticut and graduated from Middletown, Rhode Island's St. George's School in 1983. He attended the University of Vermont (UVM) from 1983 to 1987, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. In 1996, he received his graduate certificate as an education specialist from UVM. After his college graduation, Harder joined the Vermont Air National Guard; he completed the Academy of Military Science course as a distinguished graduate in 1989 and received his commission as a second lieutenant. They reside in Shelburne and are the parents of three children, Haley, Henry, and Charles.

Later career

From June 2002 to June 2004, Harder was assigned as operations plans officer for the 134th Fighter Squadron.

Harder served as director of communications and cyber at the Vermont National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ–VT) from October 2013 to March 2014. From June 2017 to July 2019, Harder served as vice commander of the 158th Fighter Wing. In January 2024, he was appointed deputy adjutant general, a state position in which he served while continuing to serve as assistant adjutant general.

Awards

Harder's awards include:

Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 2 oak leaf clusters Combat Readiness Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze service star

Promotion dates Harder's effective dates of rank are:

Second Lieutenant, 21 December 1989 First Lieutenant, 21 December 1992 Captain, 7 January 1995 Major, 11 September 1999 Lieutenant Colonel, 8 June 2005 Colonel, 22 May 2014 Brigadier General, 2 January 2020 Major General, 31 July 2025