Mission and History
Warren D. Harkins
A native Texan, he was reared in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico. He briefly attended The University of New Mexico, then enlisted in the Air Force during the Viet Nam era. After two years he was awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Oklahoma, reentering the Air Force upon graduation as an officer.
Warren was assigned to the Strategic Air Command as a missile launch officer, completing several prestigious assignments.
Leaving the Air Force in 1982, he entered the family’s communications business and grew it from two employees to a publicly traded corporation in 1994. Merging the company in 1997, Warren started another communications entity and several smaller businesses, which he operates today.
Warren has a BA from the University of Oklahoma and a MPA from Golden State University in San Francisco. He lives in Abilene, Texas with his wife, Phyllis. They have three daughters, Shaunna, Jessica, and Gina.
military model story
Military equipment such as ships, aircraft, and vehicles all have useful lives whether ended by obsolescence or lost in battle. These models are an attempt to preserve the memory of that life and of the service members who shared it.
His Mission
Operate, support, and actively grow the privately owned museum experience through its extensive model collections, to educate and inspire present and future generations about military warfare and its vast history and the continued global relevance of its lessons.
His Vision
Honor the men and women who served in and supported military operations throughout history by educating and inspiring future generations through scaled down models.
About the museum
The galleries that include the models and other collateral are private properties of the Museum of Military Models and are associated with Harkins’ own private collection. He and his team are responsible for the daily operations of the Museum to include all educational exhibit contents, commemorative ceremonies, rental operations, and fundraising.