He was a vital member of the American Legion, where he helped build a better life for l00’s of his fellow veterans. He also assisted both active duty and retired veterans in the Jacksonville area as a Board Member of the Jacksonville United Services Organization (USO). He was active in providing assistance to many retired military families while serving as a member of the Board of Directors at the Fleet Landing Continuing Care Retirement Community in Atlantic Beach, FL and for many years he has been a supporter of the Wounded Warrior Program in Jacksonville, FL

Education and Training Accomplishments:

Graduated Taylor County High School, Perry, FL, 1959

• Football; Basketball; School Newspaper Staff; Key Club; Florida 4-H State Award
• Winner; Florida Delegate to 4-H National Congress in Chicago; 
• County 4-H Club Boy of the Year; 
• 1st Place Forestry Essay Contest; Served as a Senator on State 4-H Council; 
• Worked as Stock Clerk at the local Suwannee Store

Attended North Florida Junior College, Madison, FL, 1960-62

• Played intercollegiate basketball and intercollegiate track and field; 
• Worked at Sales Western Auto in Madison; 
• Worked as Night Dispatcher in Madison for Tri-County Electric Cooperative

Bachelor of Science (Agriculture), University of Florida, Apr, 1965

• Member, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (selected “Brother of the Year” by the 1965 Pledge Class);
• Member, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps; Member, 
• UF Collegiate 4-H Club; Member, 
• UF Choral Group; 
• Played Intramural sports; 
• Worked nearly every semester in college to pay for tuition and fees

U. S. Army Helicopter Gunship Transition Training, 1967 

• Pre-Vietnam Combat Training: 1967
• Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School; 
• Commissioned Ensign USNR, 1965 Navy Flight School (Pilot Training); 
• Designated Naval Aviator, 1967
• Naval Amphibious Base, San Diego, CA, Vietnamese Cultural Orientation; 
• Individual Weapons Training, Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base; 
• Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) Training, Warner Springs, CA
• Jet Transition Training, Naval Air Station Kingsville, TX, 1968
• Multiple aircraft familiarization schools (H-3, H-46, H-53, F-9, Jet Instrument), 1968-1969 Naval Amphibious Warfare School, 1969
• Naval Aviation Maintenance Officer’s School, 1971
• National Defense University’s Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA, 1976-1977
• Navy Mine Warfare School, Charleston, SC, 1977
• Nuclear Weapons Transshipment School, 1977
• Master of Science (Business), George Washington University, 1977
• Commanding Officer’s Aviation Maintenance and Logistics School, Athens, GA, 1980 Commanding Officer’s Legal School, Newport, RI, 1980
• Commanding Officer’s Safety School, Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterey, CA, 1980 
• Commanding Officer’s Leadership, Management, Education, & Training Seminar, 1980 Navy Firefighting School, Norfolk, VA, 1980
• NATO Mine Warfare School, Ostend, Belgium, 1981
• Naval War College Post-Command Course (National Security Policy), Newport, RI, 1983 Naval Amphibious Warfare School (Repeat), 1983
• Navy Firefighting School (Repeat), 1983
• Navy Surface Warfare Ship’s Executive Officer School, Newport, RI, 1984
• Capitol Hill Workshop, Navy Headquarters Staff, Washington, DC, 1986
• U. S. Navy Shore Command (Installation Management) Course, Washington, DC, 1989
• Navy Total Quality Leadership Seminar, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA, 1991
• University of Florida’s Academic Leadership Course, 1998-1999
• President’s Academy, American Assoc, of Community Colleges, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 2002

Professional Employment History:

• North Florida Community College, Madison FL
  President, 2001-2008
• 3800 full and part-time students
• Initiated, planned, and completed $30M New Construction and Campus Renovation Constructed new, state-of-art Science Building Constructed new Safety Academy to include Law Enforcement Defensive Driving Facility and indoor, state of art firing range with new office space
• Established Registered Nursing Program, Paramedic Program, and Associate in Science Degree in Early Childhood Development
• In 2007, Washington Monthly Magazine ranked North Florida Community College number six in the nation in their national ranking of community colleges
• Designated “President Emeritus” upon retirement in 2008
• Awarded “Key to the City of Madison” by Mayor of Madison upon retirement, 2008
• College Board of Trustees designated the new Science Building, The Morris G. Steen, Jr. Science Learning Center upon retirement, 2008

Director, Career and Technical Education, 1997-2001

• Designated “Outstanding Alumni” in 1998

MassMutual/MML Investor Services, Jacksonville, FL

Registered Representative, 1993-1997

Naval Air Station Mayport, FL Commanding Officer, 1990-1992

• Planned and managed activities of multifaceted installation employing 2500 personnel with $115M annual budget including payroll (1992 dollars). Provided tailored budget planning and management services for 23 competing organizations
• Responsible for all phases of base operations including facilities management, financial management, computer support services, labor relations, personnel management, logistics and supply, health and medical services, environmental protection and compliance, safety and disaster preparedness, recreation, EEO, major charity drives, religious programs, airport/ FAA flight operations, aircraft maintenance, and community relations
• Supervised the management of supply inventory valued at $171M at forty-one different sites including overseas locations. Established improved inventory control procedures that resulted in recovery of $750K in spare parts that would have been stricken from the inventory.
• Received Duval County EDDY Award for Outstanding Educational Partnership
• Personally awarded the Legion of Merit
• Completed active naval career at grade of captain (06) with twenty-seven years of service and over 3700 flight hours in twenty-five different aircraft models

U. S. Navy Headquarters Staff, Washington, DC
Head, Navy Schools Planning and Management Branch, 1986-1989

• Responsible for determining requirements and programming resources to support five-year training plans that included an annual throughput of 800K students in 3,500 courses. Supervised staff of 25 Education and Training Specialists including PhD and senior civil service (GM-15) program managers
• As Team Leader, planned and conducted comprehensive, on-site Education and Training Management Review of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). Surveyed RSNF Red Sea and Persian Gulf Fleets. Complied comprehensive report that identified methods for improving efficiency of operations including organizational structure, manpower requirements, workforce education and training, strategic planning, and personnel management and administration, 1988
• Member, Armed Forces Review and Identification Board: One of four military 06 pay grade Board members with air combat experience (one Navy CAPT, one Air Force COL, one Army COL, one Marine Corps COL) charged with reviewing the evidence supporting the identification of human remains returning from combat operations in South East Asia during the Vietnam War
• Personally awarded Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), 1989

USS INCHON (LPH-12) Assault Aircraft Carrier, Norfolk, VA
Executive Officer (2nd in Command), and Air Officer, 1983-1986

• Responsible for planning, and managing the daily activities of 2,300 man warship with embarked Marines. Responsible for training the ship’s crew.
• Supervised $46M, eight-month ship overhaul, repair and upgrade that were completed ahead of schedule and on budget
• Planned and supervised the preparation for eight major ship and weapons systems inspections (audits), each completed without serious exception
• Planned and supervised the preparations for two major deployments supporting U. S.
• Forces in the European theater of operations (North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic) Planned, coordinated and supervised visits to 14 European ports. Organized and supervised the “shore leave” and “liberty” for 2300 U. S. Service personnel in each port
• Qualified “Command Duty Officer-Underway”; Served as Acting Commanding
• Officer on occasions when the Commanding Officer was away
• Personally awarded Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), 1996

US Navy Surface Warfare School, Newport, RI
Student, 1984

US Naval War College, Post Command Course, Newport, RI
Student, 1983

Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FOURTEEN, Norfolk, VA
Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, 1980-1983

• Responsible for combat readiness and all squadron activities including flight operations, financial management, facilities management, aircraft maintenance, supply and logistics, EEO, environmental compliance, and safety
• Planned, managed, and executed six deployments including three major overseas deployments with 300 crew-members, 575K cubic feet of material and equipment, and eight of the world’s most sophisticated aircraft, the Sikorsky RH-53D Sea Stallion
• Aggressive financial management recovered $500K+ from previous year’s inventory
• Revitalized squadron maintenance effort that resulted in a 50% increase in annual flight hour production, achieving unprecedented readiness rates
• Flight standardization and safety program judged “model for the fleet” by Commander, Naval Air Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, during annual inspection
• Received U. S. Atlantic Fleet “Efficiency” and “Safety” Awards. Runner-up for “most improved unit” in U. S. Atlantic Fleet and for “best personnel retention program” in Naval Air Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet
• Personally awarded Meritorious Service Medal (1 st Award)

Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron SIXTEEN, Norfolk, VA
Operations Officer, HM-16 Pre-Commissioning Officer-in-Charge, 1978

• Planned, coordinated, and supervised three deployments. Personally led a ten-hour, short notice deployment to the North Arabian Sea in response to the Iranian hostage crisis; embarked in USS Kitty HAWK; later cross-decked to USS NIMITZ
• Responsible for panning, coordinating, and supervising the mission training for 60 pilots and flight crew
• Member, Top Secret Navy/Air Force Accident Investigation Board re hostage rescue attempt
• Personally awarded the Navy Achievement Medal

Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron TWELVE, Norfolk, VA
Training and Education Department Head, 1977
Detachment Officer-in-Charge, 1978

• Planned, scheduled, and coordinated all training activities for 600-person squadron including occupational skill training, aviation maintenance training, & flight crew training

National Defense University’s Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
Student, 1976-1977

Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, Norfolk, VA
Rotary Wing Operations Officer, 1974

Force Personnel Readiness Monitor, 1974-1976

• Flag briefer on Personnel Readiness issues

Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SIX, Norfolk, VA
Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 1973
Detachment Officer in Charge embarked in USS CONCORD, Mediterranean Sea, 1973 Detachment Officer-in-Charge embarked in USS SANTA BARBARA for the final carrier offload of USS INTREPID, 1973
Detachment Officer in Charge, embarked in USS SANTA BARBARA, Republic of Vietnam, 1972-1973

• Flew 56 air combat support missions in Vietnam combat zone

Aircraft Division Officer, 1971-1972
• Supervised 100 maintenance personnel
Tactical Air Control Squadron FORTY S-l, Norfolk, VA

Assistant Operations Officer, 1969-1970
Aircraft Ferry Squadron THIRTY-ONE, Norfolk, VA
Top Secret/Classified Material Control Officer, 1968-1969
Standardization Pilot, UH-1, 1968-1969
Ferry Pilot
• Instrument Rated: Rotary Wing, Single Engine Airplane, Multi-Engine Airplane, Jet qualified Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron THREE, Republic of Vietnam

Detachment Avionics/Weapons/Armament Division Officer
Helicopter Attack Fire Team Lead and Helicopter Attack Aircraft Commander, 1967-1968

• Flew 665 Air combat strike and air combat support missions
• Embarked in USS JENNINGS CO., USS HUNTERDON CO., USS HARNETT CO. in Mekong Rivers

Combat Awards

• Distinguished Flying Cross;
• Air Medal (43 Awards);
• Navy Commendation Medal w/ Combat “V”;
• Combat Action Ribbon;
• Vietnam Service Medal;
• Various other personal and unit awards

U. S. Navy Flight School (Pilot Training)/Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School, Pensacola, FL
Student, 1965-1967

Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:

• Life Member, Military Officers Association of America and Member Tallahassee Chapter
• Former Member, Scholarship Committee, Tallahassee Chapter
• Member, Navy Helicopter Association
• Life Member, Seawolf Association (Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron THREE Association)
• Member, U. S. Naval Institute
• Member, American Legion
• Active supporter of the USO; Past Board Director, Greater Jacksonville Area USO Council, Jacksonville, FL
• Supporter, Wounded Warrior Project
• Keynote Speaker at the inauguration of the Veterans Memorial Park, Perry, FL
• Keynote Speaker at the naming of a Taylor County Bridge after a former World War II
• Prisoner of War, Mr. Norman Holt
• Keynote Speaker at the naming of a Taylor County Bridge after a former Korean War
• Prisoner of War, Mr. Ed Sheffield
• Guest speaker at Federal Holiday events that honor veterans i.e. Memorial Day,
• Independence Day, Veterans Day
• Guest speaker at civic clubs i.e. Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Elks for events honoring veterans
• Past Board Treasurer and Director, Fleet Landing Continuing Care Retirement Community
• (CCRC), Atlantic Beach, FL, a retirement community for former Navy & USMC Officers

Civic Activities and Contributions:

• Member, Florida 4-H Foundation Board (led Foundation’s fundraising effort to renovate Madison County’s 4-H Camp Cherry Lake Pavilion, a $750K project)
• Judge, Taylor 4-H annual youth project presentations
• Established the Morris and Judy Steen Scholarship for deserving students at North Florida Community College, Madison, FL, 2002 (awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships)
• Annual Relay For Life Sponsor, Madison & Taylor Counties
• Member, Treasurers of Madison County
• Chairman, Robert M. Hendry Memorial Methodist Church Board since 1998 Chairman, Henry Davis 4-H Scholarship Committee
• President, Ken and Betsy Smith Scholarship Fund
• Member, American Legion
• Life member. Military Officers Association of America
• Member, Navy Helicopter Association
• Life member, Seawolf Association
• Member, The Heritage Foundation
• Member, The James Madison Institute
• Member, Taylor County 2060 Visioning Task Force Member, Taylor County Farm Bureau
• Member, Taylor County Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Hendry Family Cemetery Committee
• Member and Past President Madison Rotary Club; Received District President’s Award and District Rotary Club of the Year Award; Paul Harris Fellow +1
• Past Member, Curriculum Steering Committee, Madison School District
• Past Board Member, Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc
• Past Board Member, Madison County Development Council
• Past Board member, Madison County 2010 and 2020 Visioning Committee
• Past Board Member, United Way of Big Bend representing Madison County, 2006-08
• Past Member, Madison County Business Retention and Expansion Task Force Past Vice President, Taylor Historical Society
• Past Member, Madison County 4-H Advisory Council
• Former Judge, Madison County 4-H-Tropicana Speaking Contests
• Past Chair, Perry-Foley Airport Advisory Committee
• Past Taylor County Development Authority Workforce Committee Co-Chair
• Past President, Perry Main Street, Inc
• Past Trustee, United Methodist Church, North West Florida (Tallahassee) District
• Past Board Chairman, Daniel Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville, FL
• Past Board Chairman, Daniel Memorial, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
• Past Board Chair, Florida Easter Seal Society (“Outstanding ProfessionalAdvisor, 1996″) Past Board Director, Florida Easter Seal Society State Board
• Past Steering Committee Member, Division of Community College’s Council of Presidents Past Board Treasurer and Director, Fleet Landing Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Atlantic Beach, FL
• Past Board Vice President and Director, Jacksonville Beaches Area Historical Society
• Past Board Director, MENINAK Club of Jacksonville (Civic Club)
• Past Board Director, Jacksonville Beaches Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Beach, FL Past Board Director, Greater Jacksonville Area USO Council, Jacksonville, FL
• Past member, Elder Care Task Force, Jacksonville, FL (medical/healthcare, housing, diet/ nutrition, Medicare/Medicaid, tax prep assistance, counseling/suicide prevention
• Past Christmas Bell Ringer, Salvation Army (1990-2015)
• Past Daniel Memorial Hospital Board Chair in the founding of Daniel Payne Academy Past Board Member, Cities in Schools, Jacksonville, FL

Awards and Honors:

Civilian Awards and Honors:

• Received Duval County EDDY Award for Outstanding Educational Partnership with local school, 1992
• Received “Outstanding Professional Advisor” award from Florida Easter Seal Society, 1996
• Received “Outstanding Alumni” designation from North Florida Community College, 1998 In 2002,
• The Madison County Board of Commissioners named a road in Madison County, the SW Morris Steen Road
• Nominated, Madison County’s 2006 “Citizen of the Year” by Madisonian,
• Heather Beggs Awarded Key to the City of Madison, FL upon retirement from NFCC, 2008
• Designated President Emeritus upon retirement from NFCC, 2008
• Upon retirement from NFCC, College Board of Trustees designated the new Science Building, The Morris G. Steen, Jr Science Learning Center, 2008
• Upon retirement from NFCC, the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities awarded its highest honor. The Honorary Life Membership Award, 2008

Military Awards and Honors:

• Legion of Merit;
• Distinguished Flying Cross;
• Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards);
• Air Medal (43 awards);
• Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”;
• Navy Achievement Medal;
• Combat Action Ribbon;
• Navy Presidential Unit Commendation;
• Navy Unit Commendation;
• Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation;
• Battle Efficiency Ribbon w/4 “E’s;
• Navy Expeditionary Ribbon;
• National Defense Service Medal;
• Vietnam Service Medal;
• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon;
• Peer nomination for The James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award, 1983

Written Narrative:

Captain Steen is a highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam War where he served two tours of combat duty and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism. His awards also include the Legion of Merit for exceptional meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to this country and 43 Air Medals while conducting 721 air combat strike/ air combat support missions against an armed enemy in Vietnam. It should be noted that Captain Steen was very active in assisting his fellow veterans after retiring from the Navy with 27 years of active service. He was a vital member of the American Legion, where he helped build a better life for 100’s of his fellow veterans. He also assisted both active duty and retired veterans in the Jacksonville area as a Board Member of the Jacksonville United Services Organization (USO). He was active in providing assistance to many retired military families while serving as a member of the Board of Directors at the Fleet Landing Continuing Care Retirement Community in Atlantic Beach, FL and for many years he has been a supporter of the Wounded Warrior Program in Jacksonville, FL

He attended the University of Florida where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Economics), followed by Navy flight school, and designated a Naval Aviator in January 1967. In November 1979, in response to the Iranian hostage crisis, he led advance elements of the Navy on a highly classified mission to the Indian Ocean / North Arabian Sea on a 10-hour notice. In 1982-83, as an aviation squadron Commanding Officer, his squadron earned the Battle Efficiency Award, the Navy’s Safety Award. Steen served as Executive Officer and Air Officer in USS INCHON (LPH-12), an assault aircraft carrier with 2300 Sailors and Marines. During this tour, the INCHON made three major deployments to Europe followed by a $46 million regular ship overhaul that he supervised.

While assigned to the Navy Headquarters Staff in Washington, D. C., he was Head, Schools Planning and Management and responsible for developing the Navy’s five-year training plans that included an annual throughput of 800,000 students in 3500 courses. During this tour, he led a Mobile Training Team to Saudi Arabia and conducted a comprehensive Education and Training Management Review of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. As a member of the Joint Armed Forces Review and Identification Board, Steen was one of four U. S. military combat aviators (1 Army COL, 1 Navy CAPT, 1 Air Force COL, 1 Marine Corps COL) assigned to review evidence in support of the identification of MIA / KIA remains that were returned from SE Asia.

As Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Mayport, FL, an installation with 2500 military and civilian personnel and a supply inventory valued at $171 million at forty-one different sites including overseas locations, he provided Financial Management for twenty-three competing tenant commands. During this tour, the Station received the Duval County EDDY Award for Outstanding Educational Partnership with a local school.

In 2001, Steen became president of North Florida Community College in Madison, FL. Under his leadership, the College constructed a new Public Safety Academy, a new Science Building, and increased the physical size of the campus by 70%. In September 2007, Washington Monthly magazine ranked North Florida Community College number six in the nation. In 2002, Steen and his wife, Judy, established the Morris and Judy Steen Scholarship. To date, more than $30,000 has been awarded. Steen has a Master of Science degree from George Washington University, is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, the Naval War College Post­ Command Course, and the University of Florida’s Academic Leadership Program.

Steen is active is civic affairs and is the former Chairman of Daniel Memorial Hospital, former Chairman of the NE Florida Easter Seal Society, former Chairman of The Taylor County Airport Advisory Board, past President of Perry Main Street, Inc., Co-Chair of Taylor County’s Workforce Committee, and past President and current member of the Madison Rotary Club. Additionally, he is a member the Military Officers Association of America. He has served as Chairman of the Robert M. Hendry Memorial Methodist Church Board since January 1998.

Steen’s community service has focused significant effort toward the youth of Florida through State-wide 4-H Club activities. He is a current member of the Florida 4-H Foundation Board and led the Board’s successful fundraising effort to renovate the Pavilion at 4-H Camp Cherry Lake in Madison County, a $750,000 project. A ground-breaking ceremony and celebration was held on January 31,2020, with a fish fry at Cherry Lake. Additionally, Steen and his wife, Judy, continue to be active in local 4-H activities by serving as Judges for county demonstration projects. Through the years, Steen was a member of the Madison County 4-H Advisory Council and judged the Tropicana 4-H Speaking contests.

In view of the information contained in this nomination for Captain Steen and as a proud member of the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, class of 2013,1 am honored to nominate him for membership in the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame and will be honored to serve side by side with this distinguished military veteran. His record of service to his country, to the state of Florida, to veterans, to the youth of Florida, and to his community, speak volumes.