Chasing The White Rabbit

DANIEL MORGAN is an active duty infantry colonel in the US Army who graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in international affairs in 1992 and a master of arts degree in national security strategic studies in 1998. Currently, Colonel Morgan serves as the Joint Base Commander of Joint Base Lewis McChord in the State of Washington, where he delivers installation support and services to enable the readiness of joint Army and Air Force operational forces. He has served in Vicenza, Italy, as part of the 3-325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team (ABCT), which is NATO’s spearhead rapid reaction force for Europe and Africa. After returning from Italy, Colonel Morgan was afforded an opportunity to serve as a GS 13/14 Executive Assistant to the Presidential Cabinet Officer, Director, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. During this period of 1998–2001, he participated in Executive Office of the President, interagency, and legislative policymaking activities. His duties included extensive domestic and foreign travel in support of the United States National Drug Control Strategy. Under President Bill Clinton’s administration, he engaged at the highest levels of service in the government of the United States and with foreign governments ranging from Colombia to China.

Upon completion of his White House service, Colonel Morgan returned to active duty and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in 2001 through 2011. During this assignment, he served as an Air Assault Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, Brigade Operations Officer, and Division Chief of Operations, where he participated in over four years of combat—two deployments to Iraq and two to Afghanistan.

From 2011 to 2014, Colonel Morgan was stationed at the 10th Mountain Division (Light) where he commanded the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. In January 2013, he deployed the battalion to Regional Command-East in Afghanistan for his fi fth combat deployment. Following this deployment and command privilege, Colonel Morgan was assigned as the 10th Mountain Division Chief of Staff (Rear) from 2013 to 2014.

Colonel Morgan spends most of off time with his wife, Patty, and children, Isabel and Gabriel, who are competitive athletes in lacrosse and wrestling. In between deployments, work, and family, Colonel Morgan tries to spend time hunting and fishing where he can relax and regain the physical and mental energy needed to provide for others. His favorite books that shape his leadership and always near him are Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of President Lincoln, Ulysses Grant’s Memoirs, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, and Viktor Frankl’s Pursuit of Meaning.