Lieutenant Colonel Wayne Morris is a native of Douglas, Georgia. After graduating from Mars Hill University, Lieutenant Colonel Morris attended Officer Candidate School in January 2009 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 20 March 2009. After graduating from The Basic School, he attended Marine Artillery Basic Officer Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Upon graduating from Fort Sill, he reported to 2d Battalion, 10th Marines as Fire Support Officer. From November 2010 to November 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Morris was attached to 3d Battalion, 2d Marines and deployed to the Musa Qala District, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM while serving as the Weapons Platoon Commander, Company K.
Upon redeployment to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Lieutenant Colonel Morris returned to 2d Battalion, 10th Marines, and was assigned as a Firing Platoon Commander. He then redeployed to Afghanistan as the Howitzer Detachment Commander, Musa Qala District, supporting Task Force Leatherneck and Special Operations Command. In August 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Morris redeployed to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He served as the Executive Officer, Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, before being assigned for duty at the United States Naval Academy (USNA).
Lieutenant Colonel Morris was assigned to the USNA from December 2012 to June 2016. He served as the Company Officer for 11th and 15th Companies in support of the Brigade of Midshipmen. He also instructed in the Leadership Division and was the Brigade Aptitude Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Morris also served as a principal member of the Navy Sprint Football Coaching staff.
In June 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Morris was assigned to 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. During his tour, he served as the Assistant Operations Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Morris was then selected to take command of Battery B and attach to Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines on the 11th MEU. Soon after the change of operational control, Lieutenant Colonel Morris was selected for assignment to Headquarters Marine Corps, Manpower Management Reserve Affairs, within the Manpower Management Officer Assignments Branch as the Ground Company Grade Combat Arms Monitor.
From May 2018 to June 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Morris served as the Company Grade Combat Arms Monitor and then as the Head Company Grade Monitor and Admin Section OIC. Lieutenant Colonel Morris was responsible for the career management of more than 2000 Company Grade and Warrant Officers and planned and coordinated the Marine Corps Command Visit Program. In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Morris served as a liaison between Manpower Management Officer Assignments and external stakeholders for Commandant's Career Level Education Board, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, and Marine Corps Recruiting Command. Lieutenant Colonel Morris was selected by the Commandant's Professional Intermediate-level Education Board to attend the Defense Language Institute from June 2021 to May 2022, followed by the Spanish War College from June 2022 to June 2023.
From July 2023 until June 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Morris was assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Marines as the Operations Officer. From July to September 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Morris served as Regimental Logistics Officer before deploying to Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U) in October 2024. As Chief of Current Operations and the Combined Joint Operations Center Director ISO OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE. Lieutenant Colonel Morris is currently the Regimental Executive Officer.
Personal decorations for Lieutenant Colonel Morris include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Honorable Order of St Barbara Medal.