Longtime Carteret Community College vice president recognized for more than three decades of service to education, workforce development and the Carteret County community.

Morehead City, N.C. (September 3, 2026) – Carteret Community College Vice President Perry Harker has been awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina’s highest civilian honors, recognizing his extraordinary record of service to the state, Carteret County and the communities he has served throughout his career.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented by the Governor of North Carolina to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service to their communities and the state through distinguished careers, leadership and long-standing dedication to others.

For Harker, the recognition comes after more than three decades of service to Carteret Community College and a career that has helped shape workforce development, economic opportunity and community partnerships throughout eastern North Carolina.

“Perry’s impact on Carteret Community College and this community is almost impossible to measure because his work has touched so many people, businesses and organizations over the years,” said Carteret President Dr. Tracy Mancini. “From helping individuals gain the skills they need for a better future to building partnerships that strengthen our local economy, Perry has dedicated his career to serving others. This recognition is incredibly well deserved.” Harker’s career at Carteret began in January 1985 when he joined the College as an adjunct evening instructor in the Business Department after earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from East Carolina University.

In 1991, he joined the College full time to oversee prison-based educational programs at Newport Correctional Center. His responsibilities continued to grow, and in July 1992, he became Assistant Director of Continuing Education. He was promoted to Director of Continuing Education in September 1998 before being named Vice President of Corporate and Community Education in March 1999.

Throughout his tenure, Harker has played a significant role in expanding educational and workforce opportunities throughout Carteret County. His leadership has included oversight of the College’s Small Business Center, entrepreneurial development initiatives, partnerships with local businesses and industries, workforce development programs, customized training and economic development projects.

Among those efforts was a $1.5 million federal grant secured in the early 2000s that helped make possible the construction and operation of Carteret’s Marine Trades Education Center, now known as the MARTEC Marine Technologies Center. The facility has become an important resource for marine trades education and workforce training in a region where the marine industry is deeply connected to the local economy.

Harker’s work has also supported countywide emergency services training, adult education, substance recovery programs, reentry initiatives and educational opportunities for special populations. Throughout his career, he has focused on creating pathways that connect education with employment and respond directly to the needs of local employers and residents.

His service has extended far beyond the College. Harker has held leadership roles with numerous organizations throughout Carteret County, including the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum Foundation, Down East Waterfowl and Heritage Museum, Beaufort Housing Authority and Carteret Education Foundation. He was also elected to the Carteret County Board of Education, where he served as chair. While much of Harker’s work has centered on Carteret County, his expertise in workforce development and education has earned recognition across North Carolina and beyond.

He has worked closely with the Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board and served on North Carolina Community College System adult education curriculum committees. He has also served as a trustee for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching and was an inaugural member of the NC IDEA Foundation’s North Carolina Black Entrepreneurship Council. Harker also served on former Gov. Roy Cooper’s task force addressing wind energy through the North Carolina Department of Commerce and is a graduate of the Hunt Institute’s fourth ElevateNC cohort. Across each of these roles, Harker has remained focused on one central mission: creating opportunities for people and strengthening the communities around them. Receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine recognizes a career defined not simply by longevity, but by a lasting commitment to education, economic development and service to North Carolina.