Before embarking on tech adventures here at the University of Arizona, Dirk Harris spent eight years as a member of the United States Marine Corps. Having put in some time as technical support for America Online, Dirk came to the University in 1997 as a Support Systems Analyst and has been responsible for managing the Information Technology area for the Department of Anthropology. He currently works with faculty, staff and students within the College to assist with implementation and maintenance of technologies to support research and teaching.

Dirk Harris has been a Co-Chair on the SBS Staff Advisory Council and has been a deserving recipient of The University of Arizona Staff Award for Excellence.

Outside the university community, Dirk keeps the action going by serving his fellow human beings as a member of Southern Arizona Rescue Association (SARA) and Mountain Rescue Association (MRA). He continually seeks analog excitement by taking his children with him on off-roading and hiking excursions to Table Mountain, Bushmaster Peak, Agua Caliente Peak, Ledge of the Lion (Baboquivari), Window Rock, Mica Mountain, Reef of Rock, Silver Peak (Washington State), and Sitgreaves Mountain. Other obsessions include trebuchet, hovercraft, balance scales and building gigantic slings and catapults with his kids; he encourages everyone to get outside and enjoy the great Desert Southwest.