Colonel Morris currently serves as the Commander of the 83rd USARRTC, Fort Knox, KY after most recently serving as the Legislative Liaison and Chief of the Commanders Initiative Group (CIG) for the 81st Readiness Division, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Colonel Morris is a native of Alabama and began his military career as an Engineer Officer, graduating in 1996 from the University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He also holds a Master of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management from the American Military University and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the Army War College. His military education includes Engineer Officer Basic Course (OBC), Engineer Captains Career Course (ECCC), Command and General Staff College (ILE/CGSC), and U.S. Army War College (AWC).
Colonel Morris began his career as an Engineer Platoon Leader with the 926th Engineer Battalion (USAR), located in Decatur, AL. His following two assignments included the Environmental Plans Officer with the 81st Regional Support Command (USAR) in Birmingham, Alabama and Engineer Plans Officer with the 478th Engineer Battalion (USAR) in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. In 2003, Colonel Morris was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as an assistant operations officer. Upon return, he took command of Headquarters Support Company (HSC), 478th Engineer Battalion, followed by command of the 760th Engineer Company (USAR) in Marion, Virginia. Following command, Colonel Morris was assigned to the 412th Theater Engineer Command (USAR) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he was part of the Strategic Plans (G5) section. After attendance at ILE in Fort Leavenworth, KS, Colonel Morris served as an Operation Officer (S3) for the 983rd Engineer Battalion (USAR) in Monclova, Ohio. In 2014 Lieutenant Colonel Morris deployed to Dominican Republic in support of Operation “Beyond the Horizon”, as the Task Force Executive Officer. Upon return from Dominican Republic, he was assigned to the 416th Theater Engineer Command in Darien, IL where he served as the Chief of Exercises Branch followed by the Chief of Current Operations. Following this assignment, he was selected as the Deputy Defense Coordinating Officer, (DDCO), for Defense Coordinating Element Region V in Chicago, IL. Following that assignment, COL Morris served as the Chief of Staff and then Deputy Chief of Staff, G3-Readiness for the 416th Theater Engineer Command in Darien, IL before moving to Fort Jackson, SC.
Colonel Morris’ military awards include: Meritorious Service Medal (8 awards), Joint Service Accommodation Award (2 awards), Army Commendation Award (5 awards) Army Achievement Medal (6 awards), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal - With 'M' and '2' Devices, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Korean Defense Service Medal, Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (3 awards), Navy Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Combat Action Badge.
Colonel Morris and his wife have been married for 28 years and have two children.