Colonel Daniel C. Morris assumed command of The Army Aviation Brigade, Davison Army Airfield, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, on Aug. 7, 2026. Col. Morris hails from Charlottesville, Virginia, and is a 2002 graduate of the United States Military Academy, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College. Col. Morris is rated in the OH-58A/C, UH-60A/L, and the UH-60M Blackhawk.
Col. Morris' military education includes the Basic Airborne Course; the Aviation Officer Basic Course; the Marine Expeditionary Warfare School; the Army's Command and General Staff College; Aircraft Qualification Courses for the OH-58 A/C, UH-60L, and UH-60M; the National War College and The Inspector General School (TIGS).
Col. Morris’ previous military assignments include Flight Platoon Leader in Alpha Company, 2-3 General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), Current Operations Officer and Assistant Operations Officer, 2-3 GSAB, and Commander of Alpha Company 4-3 Assault Helicopter Battalion, Hunter Army Airfield Georgia (2003-2010); Operations Officer as well as Executive Officer 3-82 GSAB, and Brigade Operations Officer, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), Fort Bragg, North Carolina (2014-2016). He then served as the Team Three Emergency Actions Officer on USSTRATCOM’s National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), Offutt AFB, Nebraska (2017-2020), Battalion Commander of the 2916th Aviation Battalion, Fort Irwin California (2020-2022), Chief of Aviation (2022-2023) and Executive Officer to the Commanding General (2023-2024) at U.S. Army South, and most recently served as the Command Inspector General for U.S. Army Europe and Africa (2025-2026).
Col. Morris has four combat deployments: in Iraq for 12 months from 2004-2005, in Iraq for 15 months from 2007-2008, in Afghanistan for 6 months in 2010, and in Afghanistan for nine months in 2014. Additionally, he amassed more than 2,100 (1,000 in combat) hours as a Pilot in Command and Air Mission Commander.
Col. Morris’ awards include the Bronze Star Medal (3); the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal (3); the Air Medal (4); the Joint Service Achievement Medal; the Army Achievement Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3CS); the Iraq Campaign Medal (2CS); the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals; the Army Service Ribbon; the Overseas Service Ribbon; the NATO Medal; as well as the Order of Saint Michael, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and the Army Master Aviator Badge.