Tech. Sgt. Morris is a clarinetist in the USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL. He performs in Concert Band, Ceremonial Band and the Liberty Clarinet Quartet. He is the Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge (NCOIC) of the Ceremonial Band, the Team Lead of Marketing for the USAF Band of Mid-America and the Music Director of the Liberty Clarinet Quartet.
Tech. Sgt. Morris is originally from Greenville, SC and has music degrees from the University of South Carolina and Northwestern University. Prior to joining the USAF, Tech. Sgt. Morris lived in the Chicago area for four years as a student, then taught privately, and freelanced with regional orchestras, colleges and theater companies. A clarinetist primarily, he also plays multiple instruments including flute, piccolo, recorder, saxophone and trumpet. Primary clarinet instructors have included Harry "Chip" Hill, R. Douglas Graham, Joseph Eller and Steve Cohen. He has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (SC) and Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Tech Sgt. Morris has studied flute with Constance Lane and Donna Shin. He has attended summer music festivals at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Aspen Music Festival and the Texas Music Festival.
Tech. Sgt. Morris entered the Air Force in September, 2011 and arrived at Scott Air Force Base in December, 2011 for his first assignment. He has been serving on active duty for 12 years. Tech Sgt. Morris is on his second assignment at Scott AFB, IL. Prior to this, he was a member of the US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, traveling to 19 countries in support of USAFE-AFAFRICA and the US State Department. Tech. Sgt. Morris has previously worked as video productions technician, Facility Manager, Duty Sergeant, Operations Representative for small and large ensembles, licensing coordinator, NCOIC of social media, NCOIC of Concert Band, NCOIC of Clarinet Quartet and Music Director. He was a featured soloist performing "Black Dog" by Scott McAllister during a tour of Michigan in 2014 and on Artie Shaw's "Clarinet Concerto" during tours of Poland and Ukraine in 2017.
EDUCATION
2007 - Bachelor of Music, Music Performance, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
2009 - Master of Music, Music Performance, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
2016 - Airman Leadership School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2017 - Community College of the Air Force, Applied Science - Music
2022 - Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson ANG Base, TN
2023 - SNCO Foundations Course - Airmanship 700, Scott AFB, IL
ASSIGNMENTS
- September 2011 – November 2011, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
- December 2011 – June 2015, Regional Band, Clarinet, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
- June 2015 – August 2020, Regional Band, Clarinet, US Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
- August 2020 – present, NCOIC, Social Media; NCOIC, Music Performance Team, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, IL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award, with oak leaf cluster
AF Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Long with oak left cluster
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with two oak leaf clusters
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 New Musician of the Year, USAF Band of Mid-America
2013 Airman of the Year, USAF Band of Mid-America
2013 Public Affairs Award for Communication Excellence - Jr Enlisted (E1-E4), Air Mobility Command (AMC) Public Affairs
2017 Musician of the 2nd Quarter, USAFE Band
2022 Public Affairs Award for Communication Excellence - NCO, USAF Band of Mid-America
2023 NCO of the 2nd Quarter, USAF Band of Mid-America
2023 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award - Jr Enlisted (E1-E6), AMC Public Affairs
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class September 27, 2011
Senior Airman January 27, 2014
Staff Sergeant April 1, 2016
Technical Sergeant November 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2024)