My Story
A native of Bronx, New York, Brian Morales began learning about photography and mass communication at Mt. Vernon High School, graduating in June 2001. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy Aug. 28, 2002, and attended Recruit Training at Great Lakes, Illinois.
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Upon completion of basic training and attending airman apprenticeship at Pensacola, Fla. that same year, Morales was assigned to the Screwtops of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123 on board Naval Station Norfolk, Va. While serving as an E-2C Hawkeye plane captain, he deployed on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and was hand-selected for several support detachments, including carrier qualifications aboard USS Eisenhower (CVN 69). VAW 123 recognized his dedicated performance by selecting Morales as the plane captain of the quarter for the third quarter of 2004 and arranging his attendance in photographer’s mate “A” school.
In August 2005, Morales attended the Defense Information School’s (DINFOS) Basic Still Photography course at Fort George G. Meade, Md. As the Navy drew outlines for a public affairs rating merger, he graduated from the course being one of the last students to process black and white film.
Receiving permanent change of duty station orders, Morales was assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1, homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., in February 2006. Shortly after reporting to ACB-1, he was promoted to photographer’s mate third class. The mass communication specialist rating was officially born later that year, merging four legacy rates: photographer’s mate, journalist, lithographer, and illustrative draftsman. As the command’s last photographer’s mate and first mass communication specialist, he faced the challenge of learning new skills during the independent tour.
Morales learned the basic fundamentals of writing, graphic design, video and print production through on-the-job training while deployed to Guatemala, Camp Pendleton and Oman. He expanded the initial role of command photographer to become the assistant public affairs officer and advanced to mass communication specialist 2nd class prior to his next assignment.
Morales transferred in 2010 to Everett, Wash., for a duty tour aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln would sail on an extended deployment shortly after his arrival. There he led 26 mass communication specialists as the Media Department’s photography supervisor, coordinated ship's nautical or otherwise photographic interpretation and examination teams and served as Carrier Strike Group 9 commander’s photographer. It was also during this deployment when he completed over 6,000 apprenticeship hours, earning the USMAP Professional Photographer certification from the Department of Labor.
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Lincoln would deploy again for a change of homeport during Morales’ tour on board. This time, he provided in-port force protection as an auxiliary security force patrolman.
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Morales sought out new opportunities in May 2012. He transferred mid-way of Lincoln’s change of homeport deployment and reported to American Forces Network Korea located in Seoul.
Naval presence at AFN Korea was vacant for a while until Morales’ arrival. As an AFN broadcaster, he reported around the peninsula on all Navy events, produced command information TV spots for United States Forces Korea local commands, provided photographic coverage for Naval Forces Korea at the Navy ball and implemented DON policies for Defense Media Activities Operations Seoul. The one-year tour concluded in June 2013.
Morales continued to hone his multimedia skills and further his knowledge in public affairs at Naval Air Station Key West from July 29, 2013 to Aug. 26, 2015. There, he spent off-duty hours volunteering for the Lower Keys Habitat for Humanity, won second place in the Photo - Portrait category of the 2014 Russell Egnor Navy Media Awards, was promoted to petty officer 1st class, and acted as command liaison to the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions. Upon his end of duty tour, Morales was made an honorary "Bilge Water Conch" for having melted in the tropical heat to get "the shot," greeting more ships than a Duval Street barker, driving the Roosevelt speedway during major reconstruction, adapting to a community so diverse it could never be duplicated and, most importantly, mastering Amazon Prime.
In September 2015, Morales returned to DINFOS and completed the Intermediate Photojournalism Course in November. He would continue onto his next duty station at Commander, Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Manama, Bahrain. It was at NAVCENT where Morales was selected as the Mass Communication Specialist of the Year (Shore) during the 2016 Russell Egnor Navy Media Awards and was recognized for his volunteer service over the years with the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal in 2017. He advised 14 public affairs officers in the U.S. Central Forces Command area of responsibility on public affairs and visual information issues during seven joint exercises. Morales also acted as a liaison between 38 units and 28 embassies in expediting the release of imagery. Furthermore, he ensured proper honors were rendered for 124 distinguished visitors, including the King of Bahrain.
In January 2018, Morales transferred to the Headquarters of U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as the visual production and engagement chief within Communications Directorate. There, he led 22 Marines during an organizational restructure of four visual information sections and acted as a standard operating procedures consultant for the Marine Corps’ military occupational specialty merger of the 4600 series.
Morales was promoted to chief mass communication specialist on Sept. 14, 2018. He was requested by name to join the Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Public Affairs team where he served as a public affairs supervisor for the 70 Navy shore bases within CNICs 10 regions prior to retirement.
Morales is qualified as an enlisted surface warfare specialist, enlisted aviation warfare specialist and enlisted information warfare specialist.
His military awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Navy Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy E Ribbon, five Navy Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, two Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medals, two Global War on Terrorism Service Medals, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, three Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, two Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons, the Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon and the Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.