Biography - David A Morris

Major General David A. Morris, USA (ret)

Major General Morris was a commissioned as an Infantry officer from the US Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1975. He subsequently served nine years on active duty, in Infantry and Special Forces assignments, including operations in El Salvador.

Morris later served briefly in the Joint Special Operations Agency, then with the US Special Operations Command, and a Special Mission Unit, and was mobilized during Operation Desert Storm. As a Colonel, he was a key leader in the USSOCOM Special Reconnaissance Capabilities Program, and later served as the Deputy Commander of Special Operations Command, Joint Forces Command. Mobilized almost immediately after the 9/11 attacks, he worked on various classified programs in support of Special Operations Forces worldwide. He later deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom where he commanded the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula.

Promoted to Brigadier General in 2005, Morris served as the Deputy Commanding General, US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) (USACAPOC (A)) at Fort Bragg, NC. In 2007 he was returned to full time active duty, promoted to Major General and commanded USACAPOC (A) for 28 months. He remained on active duty for over two more years, serving as the Deputy for Joint Capabilities Development at US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), and later as the Director of the Joint Irregular Warfare Center, where he was responsible for establishing Irregular Warfare as a core competency across the joint force, and for Executive Agent responsibilities across the Department of Defense for Joint Urban Operations. Concurrently with those positions, Morris served as the Director of the Joint Reserve Directorate and as the senior Reserve Advisor to the Commander, USJFCOM. He concluded his active duty stint as a Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army.

In civilian life, Morris served in the Intelligence Community with the Central Intelligence Agency, USSOCOM, US European Command, the Joint Analysis Center in the United Kingdom, and USJFCOM. He retired as a Senior Intelligence Executive Service-4. He also worked in the private sector focused on counterterrorism and special operations. He is currently the Vice President for Intelligence, Strategy and Planning at DYNCORP International, a global services based company. In addition to serving as an adjunct professor for the American Public University System, he is the Senior National Security Advisor for James Madison University.

In addition to a BS degree from West Point, Morris holds an MPA from Golden Gate University with a triple major. He is also a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College, and the US Army War College. He is often asked to speak at the Naval Post Graduate School and other venues on such subjects as Special Operations, Stability Operations, Joint and Combined Warfare and leadership.

His most significant awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (2), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (2), Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, the Colombian Ranger Badge (Lancero), the Combat Infantryman's Badge with Star, and parachutist badges from nine foreign nations. He has also received numerous civilian intelligence awards.