Gary Harter

Government service

Commissioner, Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs

Veterans and military affairs

Gary Harter is commissioner of Utah's Department of Veterans and Military Affairs. The department works on veterans' employment, education, health care and other services, and oversees four veterans nursing homes and the state veterans cemetery. His cabinet biography says he has advised the governor on military and veterans issues since 2013. ^{[1] [2]}

Army service and economic development

Harter retired from the Army as a colonel in October 2005 after 25 years on active duty. His final assignment was commander of Dugway Proving Ground. He then joined the Governor's Office of Economic Development, first working on defense and homeland security and later leading business outreach and international trade. ^[1]

Education

His official biography lists a biology degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree in national resource strategy from the National Defense University. ^[1]

Profile sources

Profile refreshed October 22, 2026. Candidate statements describe the candidate's own experience or positions; official records and reporting are labeled separately.

1. Governor's cabinet: Gary R. Harter · Official record
2. Veterans and Military Affairs: current staff · Official record

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