He left college to work as a civil service employee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a survey project of the Tennessee River.

In April 1938, he reported to the USCGC Northland at Seattle to serve as engineer officer during her last Arctic mission from the West Coast.

At completion of the project, he was assigned as Coast Guard representative in the Office of Inspector of Machinery, U.S. Navy, at the plant of Fairbanks-More Corp in Beloit, for Diesel engines being built for Wind-class icebreaker.

In August 1943, he became engineer officer of the attack troop transport USS Cambria while she was undergoing conversion at the Todd Hoboken Plant.

Stationed next in the 17th Coast Guard District office at Juneau, he served there as Chief, Engineering Division and also as an aide to Governor Ernest Gruening.

From September 1952 to July 1954, he commanded the USCGC Bibb which operated out of Boston, as an ocean station (weather) patrol vessel in the North Atlantic.

In June 1960, he reported in San Francisco to assume the double duties of Deputy Commander, Western Area and Chief of Staff of the 12th Coast Guard District.

Concurrent with that appointment he received orders to report to Coast Guard Headquarters for duty as Chief, Office of Operations in June 1961.

Morrison retired from that post on July 1, 1964, receiving the Legion of Merit for outstanding service covering the term of his duties as Assistant Commandant.