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Resume & Publications

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Dr. John Stephen Morgan

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919-896-9704

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Research scientist and executive with deep experience in physics, chemistry, and biology for applications in defense, law enforcement, forensic science, homeland security and related fields; experienced in the application of social science methodologies to the evaluation of technological and non-technological interventions; knowledgeable about the technical and regulatory aspects of proficiency testing, reference materials, controlled substances, and forensic toxicology. Experience in multiple sectors, including federal and state government, universities, research institutes, and commercial; research, development, test, and evaluation experience in military systems, spacecraft, protective equipment, chemical/biological defense, special operations technology, information systems, and forensic science.

Dr. Morgan teaches courses in conjunction with the Loyola Forensic Studies program and affiliated with the Biology Department of Loyola University. Current courses include Forensic Cognitive Psychology and Forensic Science Errors in Wrongful Convictions. Dr. Morgan also provides mentorship for undergraduate and graduate student research projects. He is developing coursework in forensic statistics and the management of forensic science organizations. Coptech Systems, Inc. (CSI) 9569 Brookchase Drive Raleigh, NC 27617 11/2019 to present President Small business focused on specialty manufacturing and consulting for clients in the defense, law enforcement, and related fields, including root-cause analysis of wrongful convictions; application of cognitive psychology to forensic science improvement; and application of technology in public safety contexts. Current projects include: Forensic Testimony Archeology: Exoneration Cases and Implications for Forensic Science Testimony and Communications (National Institute of Justice); Cognitive Forensic Psychology (Center for Forensic Science Research and Education); National Archive for Criminal Justice Data Migration Planning (National Institute of Justice). Research Triangle Institute (RTI) 3040 East Cornwallis Road Post Office Box 12194 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194 2/2015 to 11/2019 Senior Director, Center for Forensic Sciences Directed and developed RTI’s forensic science research, training, and quality assurance programs, including the National Institute of Justice Forensic Technology Center of Excellence and Criminal Justice Test and Evaluation Consortium, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Laboratory Certification Program, and the National Forensic Science Academy; responsible for management, business development, and strategic planning to maintain and grow RTI’s programs in forensic science and related areas of education, policing, homeland security, defense, and international capacity building. Managed a staff of more than 50 technical professionals and budget of >$15 million. Coptech, LLC 113 Havelock Ct Apex, NC 7/2013 to 2/2015 President Consulting in the science and technology of security, including forensic science, military, intelligence and law enforcement; police training; support for leadership and technology training in law enforcement, federal business development for security-related small businesses, and security-related scientific research. US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) 2929 Desert Storm Drive
Fort Bragg, NC   28310 United States 12/2010 – 7/2013 Command Science Advisor Represented USASOC interests to the Army, Special Operations Command and other science and technology agencies; coordinated USASOC science and technology development with commercial, academic, and international partners, including those in North Carolina; and managed internal science and technology gap development, transition and staff for the command. Areas of emphasis included robotics, social network analysis, site exploitation, communications, unmanned aircraft systems, irregular warfare support, and combat systems. DOD Counter Terrorism Technical Support Office Arlington, VA    United States 06/2009 - 12/2010 Deputy Director for Science and Technology Dr. Morgan provided scientific input and interagency support to the Counter-Terrorism Technical Support Office and its Technical Support Working Group. Among other initiatives, Dr. Morgan has supported international activities in counter-terrorism technology development, interagency activities in forensic science and explosives, and CTTSO's Human-Social-Cultural-Behavioral program for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Morgan's interagency collaborations sought to improve the use of policing methods and technology in military operations, transfer military technologies to domestic law enforcement, and improve requirements definition across the two domains. Dr. Morgan supported Department of Justice programs in predictive policing through direct management and with technology transfer opportunities under CTTSO programs. Dr. Morgan was on detail from DOJ for this assignment. DOJ National Institute of Justice 810 Seventh St., NW Washington, DC    United States 04/2003 - 06/2009 Deputy Director for Science and Technology Dr. Morgan oversaw the National Institute of Justice's Office of Science and Technology, a $200+ million research and development program serving state and local criminal justice practitioners. Dr. Morgan developed and administered the President's DNA Initiative, a multi-year program to enhance the nation's capacity to use DNA evidence. The program resulted in over 16,000 matches of DNA evidence to murder, rape and other crime scene evidence. Dr. Morgan was recognized for his leadership of this program with the prestigious 2007 Service to America medal. As Deputy Director, he established new research programs in body armor aging, fingerprint identification, biometrics, taser safety and effectiveness, and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. He has coordinated cooperative research programs with international partners, other federal agencies (including the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security), state and local governments, and public-private partnerships. His performance, leadership and vision were recognized as “Outstanding” by four different NIJ Directors during his tenure. JHU Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel, MD    United States 05/1985 - 05/2004 Senior Scientist Dr. Morgan performed ground-breaking research in chemical and biological defense and materials science. He developed and managed the most sophisticated chemical/biological building protection system for key national assets before 9/11 and developed mass spectrometry systems for detection of chemical and biological agents for counter-terrorism, personnel protection, facilities protection and battlefield protection. His laboratories tested sensors and systems for defense against weapons of mass destruction, including explosives, and developed protocols for aircraft cabin protection for the Federal Aviation Administration. He also developed spacecraft systems and optoelectronic sensors for ballistic missile defense and new superconductor and magnetic materials. He contributed extensive publications and teaching in these areas during his time at the Applied Physics Laboratory. Maryland General Assembly Annapolis, MD    United States 01/1991 - 01/1999 Member, State House of Delegates Dr. Morgan served with distinction for eight years in the lower house of Maryland's legislature and served in leadership roles on several primary committees, including Judiciary, Commerce & Government Matters, and the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics. He passed bipartisan legislation on blind literacy, legislative ethics, public safety, and technology transfer and received several awards for his service, including the Legislator of the Year award from the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, the Charles Miller Award for volunteer service, and other awards and endorsements from the business, medical, law enforcement and environmental advocacy communities. US House of Representatives Washington, DC    United States 11/1994 - 12/1995 Congressional Science Fellow Dr. Morgan was awarded the prestigious Congressional Science Fellowship by the American Physical Society to advance the nation's scientific policy programs through direct advice to Congress. Dr. Morgan provided policy leadership to the Science Committee and its subcommittees. He also led a successful effort by Congressman Rohrabacher to sustain intellectual property rights of small inventors through improvements in patent protections. He also served on American Physical Society Panel on Public Affairs. Education: The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD United States Doctorate 05/1990 Major: Materials Science and Engineering Thesis: Morgan JS. Properties of sputtered thin films of indium nitride and aluminum nitride. The Johns Hopkins University; 1990. The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD United States Master's Degree 05/1988 Major: Materials Science and Engineering Thesis Topic: Magnetic Ion Doping of YBa2Cu3Oy and the Copper Isotope Effect in (Y,Gd)Ba2Cu(63,65)3Oy Loyola College in Maryland Baltimore, MD United States Bachelor's Degree 05/1984 Major: Physics Publications (selected): Bryden WA, Morgan JS, Kistenmacher TJ, Moorjani K. Correlation of electrical transport and magnetism in amorphous Mn‐B alloys. Journal of Applied Physics. 1987 Apr 15;61(8):3661-3. Kistenmacher TJ, Bryden WA, Morgan JS, Moorjani K, Du YW, Qiu ZQ, Tang H, Walker JC. Stabilization of the tetragonal phase and superconducting behavior in R Ba 2 (Cu 1− x Fe x) 3 O y (R= Y, G d; 0≤ x≤ 0.15). Physical Review B. 1987 Dec 1;36(16):8877. Qiu ZQ, Du YW, Tang H, Walker JC, Morgan JS, Bryden WA. Magnetic ordering and superconducting in Fe‐doped 1‐2‐3 compounds. Journal of Applied Physics. 1988 Nov 15;64(10):5947-9. Kistenmacher TJ, Dayan D, Fainchtein R, Bryden WA, Morgan JS, Poehler TO. Substrate and Temperature Dependent Morphology of rf-Sputtered Indium Nitride Films. MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL). 1989;162. Bryden WA, Morgan JS, Kistenmacher TJ, Dayan D, Fainchtein R, Poehler TO. Growth and physical properties of rf-magnetron sputtered InN semiconducting films. MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL). 1989;162. Morgan JS, Kistenmacher TJ, Bryden WA, Poehler TO. Electron microscopy of InN films. MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL). 1989;162. Kistenmacher TJ, Bryden WA, Morgan JS, Poehler TO. Characterization of rf‐sputtered InN films and AlN/InN bilayers on (0001) sapphire by the x‐ray precession method. Journal of Applied Physics. 1990 Aug 15;68(4):1541-4. Morgan JS, Bryden WA, Kistenmacher TJ, Ecelberger SA, Poehler TO. Single-phase aluminum nitride films by dc-magnetron sputtering. Journal of Materials Research. 1990 Nov;5(11):2677-81. Kistenmacher TJ, Bryden WA, Morgan JS, Dayan D, Fainchtein R, Poehler TO. Thin films of rf-magnetron sputtered InN on mica: Crystallography, electrical transport, and morphology. Journal of materials research. 1991 Jun;6(6):1300-7. Wickenden DK, Kistenmacher TJ, Bryden WA, Morgan JS, Wickenden AE. The effect of self nucleation layers on the MOCVD growth of gallium nitride on sapphire. MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL). 1991;221:167. Morgan JS, Kistenmacher TJ, Bryden WA, Ecelberger SA. Sputter deposition of indium nitride on the (111) face of elemental and compound semiconductors. In Evolution of thin-film and surface microstructure, MRS Online, 1991. Bryden WA, Morgan JS, Fainchtein R, Kistenmacher TJ. Effects of an AlN nucleation layer on magnetron-sputtered indium nitride films. Thin Solid Films. 1992 May 29;213(1):86-93. O. M. Uy, R. C. Benson, M. T. Boies, J. D. Kinnison, Morgan J., S. A. Tison, A. R. Filippelli and C. R. Tilford, "Use of the NIST-Developed Water Calibrator for the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) Mass Spectrometer", SPIE's International Symposium on OE/Aerospace Sensing, 1994. Morgan J., "Membrane-Inlet Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer for Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents," presented to the 1998 conference of the Defense Special Weapons Agency, Philadelphia, PA. Morgan JS, Bryden WA, Vertes RF, Bauer S. Detection of Chemical Agents in Water by Membrane-Introduction Mass Spectrometry. Johns Hopkins APL technical digest. 1999;20(3):381-8. Morgan JS, Bryden WA, Miragliotta JA, Aamodt LC. Improved detection of explosive residues by laser thermal desorption. Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest. 1999 Jul 1;20(3):389-95. Morgan J., “Fast Gas Chromatography and Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for Rapid, Low-False Positive Chemical Warfare Agent Detection,” 2nd Conference on Mass Spectrometry as Applied to Chemical and Biological Warfare, Warwick, EN, April 2002. Heaton H., Morgan J., Murray G., “Mitigation Options for Chemical Agent Attack in Aircraft Cabins,” report for Federal Aviation Administration, 2001. Morgan J., Testimony before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations and Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census of the House Government Reform Committee, “Public Safety Interoperability: Can You Hear Me Now?,” November 2003. Daniels DJ and Morgan JS, “Information-Sharing Efforts That Help to Reduce Crime and Respond to Emergencies,” U. S. Attorneys Bulletin, Vol. 52, No. 5, September 2004. Morgan J., “DNA Identification in Mass Casualty Incidents,” World Trade Center Kinship and Data Analysis Panel, June, 2005. Morgan J., “International Forensic Standards and the President’s DNA Initiative,” International Association of Forensic Sciences 2005, Hong Kong, invited plenary presentation, August, 2005. Morgan J., “NIJ Body Armor Standard,” Keynote Address, Technical Workshop on Body Armor Standards and Testing, National Institute of Standards and Technology, November, 2005. Morgan J., “DNA Identification in Mass Casualty Incidents,” Evidence Technology, January/February 2006. Morgan J., invited testimony to the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology concerning interoperable communications for public safety, April 25, 2006. Morgan J., ”National Institute of Justice Research Program and Budget: Future Needs and Priorities,” Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences committee on Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States, January 2007. Morgan J., “Oversight of the Justice for All Act: Has the Justice Department Effectively Administered the Bloodsworth and Coverdell DNA Grant Programs,” testimony to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, January 23, 2008. Morgan J., “Medical Panel Issues Interim Findings on Stun Gun Safety,” NIJ Journal 261, October 2008 (NCJ 224086). Morgan J.,”Supporting the Effort to Exonerate the Wrongfully Convicted,” The Police Chief, vol. LXXVI, no. 4, April 2009. Reidenberg J. and Morgan J., “Privacy and Public Safety in a Surveillance Society,” Specialist Session, Public Services Summit 2009, Stockholm, Sweden. Morgan J., “US Army Special Operations Command Technology Challenges,” Joint Missions Conference, Crane, IN,30 August 2011. Morgan J., “US Army Special Operations Command,” Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, January 2012. Morgan JS, US Army Special Operations Command Science and Technology Needs,” Soldier Equipment & Technology Expo & Conference, August 2012 Morgan J., “USASOC/UNC Human Doman Workshop,” US Special Operations Museum, November 2012. Morgan JS, “Practice and Pitfalls of Science Advising in the Government,” Forum on Physics and Society, July 2013. Morgan J. and Ropero Miller JD,”Forensic Technology Center of Excellence,” presentation to the National Academy of Sciences panel on Strengthening the National Institute of Justice, May 7, 2015. Morgan JS and Ropero Miller JD,” Organic Gunshot Residue Analysis for Potential Shooter Determination,” report of the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, May 2015. Morgan J., Ropero Miller JD, McCleary N., and McLendon M., “State Forensic Science Commissions,” report for the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, November 2016. Morgan J., “Forensic Optical Topography: A Landscape Study,” report of the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, December 2016. Morgan J., ”A Close Look at 3D Microscopy for Firearms Identification,” webinar for the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, January 2018. Morgan J., Just Science podcast, over 100 episodes of content concerning scientific and practice advancements in forensic science, 2018-19. See https://forensicrti.org/just-science-podcast/. Morgan J., “Case Study of Technology Transfer: Optical Topography for Firearms Impression Evidence Examination,” IEEE 5th World Forum on Internet of Things, 15-18 April 2019, Limerick, Ireland. Morgan J., “Forensic Technology Center of Excellence,” plenary presentation for the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors annual conference, May 2019. Morgan J. and Pretty I., “Scientific Foundations of Bitemark Examination,” presentation for the National Institute of Standards and Technology Bitemark Thinkshop, November 2019. Morgan J., “Understanding Claims of False or Misleading Forensic Evidence: Revelations from the Analysis of Exoneration Cases and Implications for Forensic Science Testimony and Communications,” presentation for the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, August 2021, Boston, MA. Morgan J., “Wrongful Convictions and Claims of False or Misleading Forensic Evidence,” presentation for the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, April 2022, Reno, NV. Eldridge H, Spellman BA, Morgan J, Busey T, Taylor MK. Overview of special issue: Human factors in forensic science practice sourcebook. Forensic Science International: Synergy. 2022;4. Morgan J. Wrongful convictions and claims of false or misleading forensic evidence. Journal of forensic sciences. 2023 Mar 22. Morgan J. Wrongful convictions and forensic science errors: case studies and root causes. CRC Press, 1st edition, 2023 Mar 29, ISBM 978-1032064970. Morgan J., “Forensic evidence in wrongful convictions: impact and implications,” presentation to the National Institute of Justice National Research Conference, 2023 May 24, Washington, DC. Morgan J. “Effective use of forensic evidence in prosecution: lessons from wrongful convictions,” presentation to the training conference of the Executive Office of US Attorneys, National Advocacy Center, 15 June 2023, Columbia, SC. Morgan J., “Building organizational resiliency and reliability: lessons from wrongful convictions,” presentation for the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, May 2003, Austin, TX. Other Service to America Medal for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, 2007. (for development of the President’s DNA Initiative to improve the use of DNA analysis in forensic laboratories)
Attorney General's Award (nominated for work in connection with the Attorney General's Body Armor Initiative)
Outstanding Contributions to Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement Information Managers, International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2005-7.
American Physical Society Panel on Public Affairs (1997)
Young Political Leaders international exchange tour (Japan, 1994)
American Association for the Advancement of Science international exchange tour (Switzerland, 2002; focus of discussions: technology transfer, scientific ethics)
Chairman, Howard County, MD Citizens Advisory Committee to the Board of Education (1989) President’s Award, RTI International, 2015, for work on the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. President’s Award, RTI International, 2018, for work on the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

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