Morgan graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science in 1952.

Morgan was ordered to a NAS in Olathe, Kansas, in January 1959 as a flight instructor in the Navy's Jet Transitional Training Unit.

Ordered to WestPac, he served as executive officer, Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, NAS Atsugi, Japan until January 1962.

From January 1962 to July 1965, he served as the fleet liaison officer at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona, coordinating aviation weapons training.

Promoted to colonel in July 1973, Morgan was ordered to the U.S. European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, where he served as the chief of War Plans Branch, J-5.

He remained in that position until he was assigned duty as assistant deputy chief of staff for requirements and programs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

He served in this capacity until assuming duty as deputy commander, FMF, Pacific, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, in July 1980.