Derek Morgan
Derek Morgan
Senior Scientist, HASS COE
derek.morgan1@dot.gov
Derek Morgan is a Senior Scientist at the USDOT Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence (HASS COE) specializing in aviation safety system modernization and modal integration. He is currently on detail from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Certification Service, where he leads the FAA Innovate28 Certification Innovation Team and serves as a member of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Interagency Working Group. Throughout his 27 years as an aerospace professional, Derek held multiple technical and leadership roles resulting in an array of solutions to challenging problems, improved partnerships, and successful integration of policy systems. He has led inter-division, inter-service, and inter-agency teams improving value through strong collaboration such as those stemming from his 10 years as manager of the FAA’s Military Certification Office. While there, he was awarded the United States Air Force Award for Meritorious Civilian Service, and his diverse Integrated Airworthiness Team received FAA Aviation Safety’s Partnership Award. Fascinated by space flight and aviation since childhood, Derek began his career as a flight test engineer for Cessna Aircraft Company while earning a degree in aerospace engineering from Wichita State University. He later joined the FAA, logging hundreds of test hours in small and large aircraft before transitioning to program management. During his FAA tenure, Derek served on several technical and strategy-focused teams and fulfilled numerous senior leader special assignment invitations for conventional and uncrewed aircraft divisions. Most recently, he served details as deputy executive director and executive advisor for the Aircraft Certification Service. Derek has served his community as an advisor to his alma mater, board president and mentor for a non-profit youth mentoring organization, and other endeavors aimed at improving the well-being of youth and professionals in the Wichita community.
