Heather Morris

Dr. Heather L. Morris is an active duty military psychologist currently assigned as an investigative psychologist to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) Behavioral Science Directorate in Quantico, VA. She is a board certified clinical psychologist with a background in forensic psychology. Dr. Morris currently provides investigative psychology consultation to OSI agents and is an instructor for several advanced investigative courses.

Dr. Morris was previously a clinician at the Peak Performance Center for the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO. There she provided evaluation and treatment services for cadets, taught Introduction to Behavioral Sciences, consulted with leadership on mental health issues related to cadets, developed and managed the Gender Forum program, and was the Director of the Substance Abuse and Prevention Services program. In addition, she traveled internationally to consult and serve as an expert witness in Courts-Martial cases and conducted sanity board evaluations.

Dr. Morris received her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in leadership from the University of West Florida, where she was also captain of the women’s basketball team (2002). She then obtained her master’s degree in forensic psychology from the University of Denver in 2004. Dr. Morris completed her second master’s degree (2006) and her doctorate in clinical forensic psychology (2008) also from the University of Denver. Her clinical experience includes the treating and evaluating of offenders - including sex offenders - both in prison and in the community. Dr. Morris practiced in a police psychology firm for eight years in which her duties included: consulting with schools, universities, and workplaces on insider/outsider threats; conducting violence threat assessments; trial consulting; investigative case consultation; responding to critical incidents to provide psychological first aid; and conducting trainings on trauma, stress management, verbal de-escalation, threat assessment, and active shooter prevention, response, and recovery. In 2007, Dr. Morris traveled to Antarctica with a team of psychologists to conduct pre-deployment evaluations. In addition to her clinical experience, Dr. Morris has taught at several universities since 2008.

Dr. Morris entered the United States Air Force in April 2013, receiving a direct commission as a Captain in the Biomedical Services Corps. She graduated Commissioned Officer Training in September 2013, earning the Distinguished Graduate honor (top 10%) and has been presented with several awards since joining the military. She will be promoting to the rank of Major in 2018.

Education

PsyD, University of Denver

MA, University of Denver

MA, University of Denver

BA, University of West Florida

Publications

Morris, H. (2018). Research-based best practices: the danger of non-lethal strangulation. Air Force Office of Special Investigations Behavior Sciences Directorate Publication

Morris, H. (2018). Kinetic insider violence and mass shootings.