Colonel Justin W. Morrison is the Commander, 18th Civil Engineer Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan. In this capacity, he leads the largest civil engineer organization in the U.S. Air Force, comprised of over 1,600 personnel, enabling decisive air and cyberspace capabilities in support of U.S. interests, the defense of Japan, and peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific. Col Morrison manages an annual operating budget in excess of $120 million, oversees all planning, design, construction, sustainment, and protection of over 5,000 facilities and related infrastructure, and serves as the executive agent for the largest military family housing operation in the Department of Defense. Additionally, he supports a population of nearly 18,000 Americans and more than 4,000 Japanese through the delivery of essential installation services to include environmental management, fire protection, aircraft crash and rescue, explosive ordinance disposal, disaster preparedness, and incident management.
Colonel Morrison was commissioned in 1999 upon graduation from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Portland and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Colorado. He has commanded civil engineer squadrons in the Pacific and Europe and has held a variety of base civil engineer positions, headquarters staff positions, and served as an instructor at the United States Air Force Academy.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Magna Cum Laude, University of Portland, Portland, Ore.
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Top Third Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering, University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Dari Language Studies, Defense Language Institute, Washington, D.C.
2014 Master of Arts degree in Strategic Security Studies, Distinguished Graduate, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2017 Air War College, by correspondence
2021 Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1999 – September 2002, Deputy Chief, SABER and later Chief, Heavy Repair, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
2. September 2002 – August 2005, Project Engineer, 820th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
3. August 2005 – August 2006, Graduate Student, Air Force Institute of Technology Civilian Institute Program, University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.
4. August 2006 – April 2010, Assistant Professor and Executive Officer, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
5. April 2010 – September 2011, Operations Flight Commander, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
6. September 2011 – April 2012, AFPAK Hand, Office of the Civil Engineer, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C.
7. April 2012 – November 2012, Senior Ministerial Advisor, Deputy Chief of Staff Stability, Headquarters International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan
8. November 2012 – August 2013, Deputy Program Manager, Natural Resources, Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan and Washington, D.C.
9. August 2013 – June 2014, Student, College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
10. July 2014 – July 2016, Commander, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
11. August 2016 – June 2017, Chief, Electronic Warfare Branch, Combat Forces Division, Directorate of Strategic Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
12. June 2017 – August 2018, Deputy Chief, Integration Division, Directorate of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C.
13. August 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 435th Construction and Training Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
14. June 2020 – June 2021 Student, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
15. July 2021 – June 2022, Deputy Commander, 800th RED HORSE Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
16. June 2022 – Present, Commander, 18th Civil Engineer Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 13, 1999
First Lieutenant July 13, 2001
Captain July 13, 2003
Major June 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2014
Colonel November 1, 2020
(Current as of July 2022)