[2] He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree[2] in mathematics and geology.

[3] On 13 July 1965, a new United States Government scientific agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA), was created.

On 3 October 1970, ESSA was abolished and replaced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

[5] From 1975 to 1981, he was assigned to the NOAA Research Facilities Center, where he established and served as chief of the Helicopter Operations Group,[2][5] which supported the Outer Continental Shelf Energy Assessment Program.

[5] On 17 June 1986, President Ronald Reagan nominated Moran to succeed Rear Admiral Kelly E. Taggart as Director of the NOAA Corps.