Biography

Major Aaron Morris serves as the Deputy Commander of The U.S. Army Band, as well as the Associate Conductor and Officer in Charge of the Army Ceremonial Band, the Army Herald Trumpets, and the U.S. Army Strings. He is also the Officer in Charge of the Army Band Support Element. A native of Finksburg, Maryland, he holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Maryland, a Master of Music Education from Old Dominion University, and a Master of Operational Studies from the Command and General Staff College. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. His previous teachers and mentors include Dale Underwood, Dennis Zeisler, and Dr. Nancy Klein.

Major Morris began his military career in 2005 as a saxophonist with the 257th Army National Guard Band in Washington, D.C. In 2007, he joined the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Band at Fort Monroe, Virginia. While assigned to the TRADOC Band, he was the first awardee of the Army Bands Soldier of the Year Award.

Major Morris received his commission in 2009 from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was then assigned to the Army School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia, where he served as Executive Officer. He later served at the Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), G-1 as the Staff Bands Officer, at the FORSCOM Headquarters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In this position, he was responsible for the evaluation and support of all aspects pertaining to the 76 FORSCOM Army Music Units. Major Morris then served as the Executive Officer of the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) Band and Chorus. During his tenure with the USAREUR Band and Chorus, the unit performed in over 25 countries for over 250 million people. Some highlights of his time with the unit include organizing and leading the NATO Saxophone Ensemble at the 2015 World Saxophone Congress, performing at the 2016 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and leading the Soldiers' Chorus in performances in Kyiv, Ukraine. Major Morris was then in command of the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) Band at Fort Benning, Georgia. During his time there, the MCoE Band was utilized as the main community engagement tool for the command and made frequent radio and TV appearances, including performing on Fox NFL Sunday.

Major Morris’ military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (five Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Overseas Service Ribbon. Major Morris also holds an Additional Skill Identifier as an Information Operations Planner.