J. Michael Duncan

Michael Duncan served as the 38th Knight Commander of Kappa Alpha Order from August 2007 until August 2011. He served as Number I of his chapter in 1972 and earned degrees in business management and accounting from Stephen F. Austin University and the University of Texas at Arlington, respectively. In 1974, Duncan became a volunteer leader of the Order by beginning his tenure as Commander of Mikell Province, a position he held until 1989. He was then elected to the Order’s Executive Council and served from 1989 to 1995 and again from 1999 to 2011.

Duncan’s priority as Knight Commander was improving the scholastic performance of our undergraduates. During his term, the Order’s chapters experienced their highest-grade point averages in history.

One of his first official acts as Knight Commander was creating an award for courage for three young brothers who acted in the face of danger and adversity. He then asked the Executive Council to codify his actions by creating the Knight Commander’s Medal. Since its inception, this Medal has been awarded by other Knight Commanders to many courageous KAs, both active and alumni.

Thirteen active chapters were established or re-chartered while he was Knight Commander as well as three new commissions, Theta (Citadel), Sigma Alpha, The United States Military Academy (West Point), and Omega, as well as the establishment of the Military Division of Kappa Alpha Order.

Concerned with providing quality leadership training to the Order’s Number I’s, Duncan worked to establish the Number I’s Leadership Institute in 2002, the first of its kind in the fraternity world. Number I’s receive training designed to provide them with tools to lead and enhance their term as Number I.

He is a member of numerous Courts of Honor as well as a recipient of the Knight Commander’s Accolade. Currently, Former Knight Commander Duncan is continuing his career of lifetime service to the Order as the Dean of the Number I’s Leadership Institute and as a Life Trustee with the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation.

Professionally, Former Knight Commander Duncan is a retired Senior Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and was assigned to the Dallas Field Office. As a member of the ATF’s Western Special Response Team (SWAT), he saw significant hostile action in the field. Former Knight Commander Duncan has also served on Secret Service protection details for each President from Gerald Ford to George W. Bush. Throughout his noteworthy career of public service Former Knight Commander Duncan has been awarded three United States Treasury Special Act Awards, the ATF Hostile Action Award, and the United States Treasury Distinguished Service Medal. He also received the Order’s Distinguished Public Service award upon retirement from ATF.

Former Knight Commander Duncan lives in Pantego, Texas with his wife Donna. His son, Lt Col Chris Duncan, is a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force and is an initiate of Gamma Chi Chapter at Texas Tech University. After transferring to Texas A&M University, Chris affiliated with Epsilon Delta Chapter.