Harris has been Huckabee's director of press operations since July 15, 1996. He was on the Huckabee transition team between the time Jim Guy Tucker resigned as governor and Huckabee took office. Harris began advising the governor on emergency management issues in June 1997 and worked on Homeland Security policy issues after Sept. 11, 2001.
In 2001, the governor appointed Harris to the Arkansas Homeland Security Council. In 2002, Harris served on the Southern Governor's Association Taskforce on Telemedicine and Homeland Security. U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins appointed Harris to the Arkansas Anti-Terrorism Task Force in 2003 .He was a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force from 2002-2003.
In 2004, Harris served on the Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) Advisory Panel.
He is the constable for District 5 in Saline County.
Harris has completed the Weapons of Mass Destruction Emergency Response Training Course, Weapons of Mass Destruction Incident Command Course, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Incident Hands on Training Course, at the Department of Homeland Security's Center for Domestic Preparedness at Anniston, Ala.
He completed the Controllers for State Incident Emergency Management Course and the Advanced Public Information Officer Course at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute at Emmitsburg, Maryland.
In the fall of 2000, Harris worked in the re-election campaign of U.S. Representative Jay Dickey, R-Arkansas, while he was on leave from Governor's Office.
Before joining the governor's staff, Harris was city editor, assistant city editor, regional editor and a reporter for the Texarkana Gazette from 1979-96.
Harris served as press secretary and assistant for science and technology issues for U.S. Representative Ray Thornton, D-Arkansas, from 1976-1979. He was photo-features editor for Hope Star in Hope, Ark., from 1975-76.
A 1975 graduate of Henderson State University, Harris graduated from Arkadelphia High School in 1971.
