LTC Dustin Harris currently serves in the California Army National Guard (CAARNG) as the Director of Psychological Health (Joint). In this capacity, he provides executive leadership and oversight of the California Military Department’s statewide Behavioral Health program, including direct supervision of the full-time behavioral health force and strategic management of more than twenty traditional Behavioral Health Officers across the state. From 2019 to 2021, LTC Harris commanded the 297th Area Support Medical Company and was activated as the Medical Task Force Commander during the California National Guard’s COVID-19 support mission, overseeing critical medical response operations across the state LTC Harris has deployed in support of contingency operations to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and has also traveled to Ukraine and Poland to train Ukrainian and NATO forces.

He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Liberty University, where his doctoral research emphasized organizational leadership, resilience, and the development of high-performing teams. He earned his Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, one of the nation’s leading programs in clinical practice and military social work. In 2009, he became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, and in 2013, he was recognized as a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, the profession’s highest clinical credential.

Commissioned into the California Army National Guard in November 2010, he has built a career that blends clinical expertise with military service and leadership. He brings more than 15 years of professional social work experience spanning multiple sectors, including state mental health services, law enforcement, child protective services, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. These diverse assignments have provided him with a unique ability to address complex behavioral health challenges in both civilian and military populations.

In addition to his operational and clinical work, he has dedicated more than a decade to teaching and mentoring as an Adjunct Professor, shaping the next generation of social workers and behavioral health professionals. He also maintains an active individual practice, where he continues to apply his clinical expertise in service to individuals, families, and communities.