The Army Reserve officer caught in the middle of a viral scandal is now opening up about parts of his past most people never knew — from his early years to his days at West Point.
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Lt. Col. Adam Harmon, 44, is facing scrutiny after a New York Post investigation exposed his hidden online activity. The article revealed Harmon, a married officer and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) specialist, had shared provocative personal content on social media — some of it while wearing a U.S. military uniform and during overseas assignments.
The since-deleted account on X (formerly Twitter), under the username “@franzkafka2007,” featured images and videos of Harmon in military settings. In some posts, he appeared in uniform while engaging in behavior that could violate military conduct standards and potentially federal regulations.
One image, reportedly posted while Harmon was deployed to the Middle East in 2024, included a suggestive caption referencing his location in Dubai. The United Arab Emirates has strict laws regarding LGBTQ+ expression, and such content could have led to serious legal consequences if discovered locally.
Other posts reportedly depicted Harmon in military attire in non-professional settings. These incidents have raised concerns within the Department of Defense, as military guidelines prohibit the misuse of uniformed imagery and emphasize appropriate behavior, both on and offline.
When contacted by The Post, Harmon issued a public apology:
“Serving this country in uniform for 24 years has been the greatest honor of my life. That’s why I am deeply sorry for the lapse in judgment that brought embarrassment to the Army, my unit, and myself. This occurred during an especially lonely chapter of my life, but I take full responsibility.”
But Harmon’s relationship with military rules and boundaries stretches back further than this recent controversy. In a 2021 recorded interview with the West Point Queer History Archive, Harmon — then a major — disclosed that he had secretly created a private online group for LGBTQ+ service members during his plebe year at West Point in the early 2000s.
The group, called Guys Like Us, began on MySpace and quietly grew to include hundreds of gay and bisexual troops from across the armed services — from junior enlisted to senior officers. At the time, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” prevented service members from openly identifying as LGBTQ+, making such spaces rare and risky.
Harmon said the group was a support network for those struggling with isolation or secrecy, and described it as a lifeline for many. Today, however, that past is being viewed under a new lens following the recent revelations.
Before arriving at West Point, Harmon served as a linguist in the Army, studying Arabic at the Defense Language Institute. During the interview, he shared that he had his first same-sex experience during that time, which he described as the moment he came to terms with his identity.
Interestingly, Harmon never planned on joining the military at all. He had hoped to become a priest since seventh grade, describing himself as deeply religious — despite his family not being particularly devout.
“I had no idea I was going to go into the military. I was weirdly super religious on my own. My family wasn’t really religious,” he said.
He served as a youth pastor during and after high school and was actively pursuing a religious path when he began to struggle academically in community college. Around that time, he said rumors of a possible military draft under President Clinton influenced his decision to enlist.
While at the U.S. Military Academy prep school, Harmon said he nearly got exposed when someone discovered browser history on a shared computer showing visits to LGBTQ websites. Though the incident sparked rumors, Harmon said it was never traced back to him.
In 2011, Harmon and his husband — fellow Army Reserve officer Lt. Col. Peter Bennett — were profiled in The Huffington Post as one of the first openly gay military couples following the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Bennett, a decorated officer with 15 awards including the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge, has not commented publicly on the recent matter.
The fallout has already begun. Harmon confirmed through his representatives that he was terminated from his civilian DEI position last Thursday after the online material surfaced. Military legal experts say further disciplinary action may follow.
Sean Timmons, a former Army JAG officer, told The Post that Harmon’s case could lead to serious consequences under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
“They could throw the book at this individual. Conduct unbecoming, inappropriate use of the uniform, and possible security clearance violations — these are serious concerns,” Timmons said. “He could also become a target for coercion while deployed. That poses a national security risk.”
Timmons added that Harmon’s spouse could also be subject to scrutiny if he was involved in the creation or distribution of the content.
As for Harmon’s reputation, his early efforts to support LGBTQ soldiers were once considered pioneering. But in light of recent events, that legacy is now being questioned — a stark reminder that public trust in military leadership is built not only on bravery and advocacy, but also on personal responsibility and professional integrity.
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