Kerry S. Harris
{{short description|American entrepreneur and inventor (born 1969)}}
{{notability|Biographies|date=June 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
Kerry S. Harris (born December 8, 1969) is an American entrepreneur and inventor. Harris is involved with{{clarify|date=August 2013}} motorcycle helmets under the brand name Akuma Helmets utilizing his patented Integrated Power System.{{cite web|url=http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/akuma-helmet/|title=Akuma V-1 "Ghost Rider" Motorcycle Helmet Review|publisher=Web Bike World|access-date=April 6, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,303,302.PN.&OS=PN/7,303,302&RS=PN/7,303,302|title=United States Patent: 7303302 - Electrical power system for crash helmets|publisher=|access-date=April 6, 2019|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305002813/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,303,302.PN.&OS=PN/7,303,302&RS=PN/7,303,302|url-status=dead}}{{sfn|Drummond|2009}}{{sfn|Ultimate Motorcycling|2009}} The Integrated Power System is also used in various other helmets to include bicycle,{{cite web|url=http://www.bikepartsplace.com/discount/helmet-ils-bluecarbon/|title=Ironman Helmet - ILS BlueCarbon - $96.99|website=www.bikepartsplace.com|access-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005171905/http://www.bikepartsplace.com/discount/helmet-ils-bluecarbon|archive-date=October 5, 2018|url-status=dead}} law enforcement, and other sports related industries to increase safety and provide greater utility. Harris' innovations are currently being used by the Departments of Defense of several countries to include impact attenuation (helmets), electronics, optical technology, and human-mechanical interface technology.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/catching-up-with-the-black-tony-stark-2/|title=Catching Up With the Black Tony Stark|date=2015-12-17|website=Black Enterprise|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-21}}
Biography
A veteran of both the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, Harris served 18 years as an enlisted sailor, a Marine Corps officer, and a Naval Aviator.
Graduating from Killeen High School in Killeen, Texas, he attained the rank of Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd class (E4) in less than two years, with his primary job being a crash and salvage crewman on the flight deck of the {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}}. During his junior year at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, he attended officer candidate school for the United States Marine Corps and accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant after graduation. After a three-year tour in the Marine Corps, Harris transferred back to the Navy to attend flight school, earning his wings of gold to fly P-3 Orions.
Harris has been a guest speaker at Harvard Business School.{{cn|date=October 2024}} He is a member of the national honor society in Psychology (Psi Chi). He is also a pilot and maintains a commercial pilot's license with multi-engine and instrument ratings. In March 2012, Harris was named "Innovator of the Year" by Black Enterprise magazine.{{citation|work=Black Enterprise|url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business-is-big-business/|author=Joel Lyons|title=Small Business is Big Business|date=September 1, 2012|publisher=|access-date=December 9, 2021}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
= Sources =
- {{citation|title=Akuma Helmets: Motorcycle Design Award|date=May 7, 2009|work=Ultimate Motorcycling|url=http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/Akuma_Motorcycle_Helmets_Design_Award|ref={{harvid|Ultimate Motorcycling|2009}}}}
- {{citation|work=Inventor's Digest|title=Shine the Light – 'The Helmet Is the Power Supply'|editor-first=Mike |editor-last=Drummond|date=February 2009|url=http://www.inventorsdigest.com/past-issues/feb09-shine|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008102148/http://www.inventorsdigest.com/past-issues/feb09-shine|archive-date=October 8, 2011}}
Further reading
- Aerospace and Defense News [http://www.asdnews.com/news/37176/A7_Helmet_Systems_Unveils_New_Bison_Model_Helmet_Liner.htm]
- {{Citation |title= Doing 'what makes sense': with internal power systems and three-dimensional, airbrushed graphics, Integrated Helmet Technology and Akuma Helmets have brought innovation and art to protective motorcycle helmets and bicycle helmets |first=Alan |last=Dorich |journal=US Business Review |volume= 8 |issue= 7 |date=July 2007 |pages= 22+ }}
- {{Citation |title= Riding high: entrepreneur's motorcycle helmets fuel company's success |first= Tamara E. |last= Holmes |magazine=Black Enterprise |volume=39 |issue=4 |date=November 2008 |page=45|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Riding+high%3a+entrepreneur%27s+motorcycle+helmets+fuel+company%27s+success.-a0188351257|via=The Free Library}}
- {{Citation |title= Day rider |magazine=Popular Science |volume= 274 |issue=2 |date=February 2009 |page= 17 }}
- {{Citation |title= Who's Who in Black San Antonio: The Inaugural Edition |isbn=978-1933879703 |first=C. Sunny |last= Martin |publisher= Who's Who Publishing Company |year= 2008 |page=77 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Kerry S.}}
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:United States Navy sailors
Category:United States Marine Corps officers
Category:Texas State University alumni
Category:21st-century American inventors
Category:21st-century African-American businesspeople
Category:African-American inventors