Lieutenant Colonel Brian Morgan ’07 has built a career at the intersection of cybersecurity, military leadership and public service, shaping how communities respond to cyber threats at the highest levels.
In August 2025, he played a central role in coordinating Minnesota’s first-ever National Guard cyber response mission in Saint Paul. During a significant ransomware attack that disrupted critical city services, Brian led the rapid integration of National Guard cyber teams with local, state and federal partners to stabilize systems and protect the public.
Despite the unprecedented nature of the mission and intense public attention, including media appearances, Brian recalls feeling prepared. In a live CNN interview during the response, he explained the Guard’s role and mindset in tackling such a complex challenge. “I felt remarkably calm,” he says. “That confidence came from preparation. Everything we built over the last two years was designed for this exact moment.”
For his leadership during the mission, Brian received the Minnesota National Guard’s State Medal of Merit, one of the organization’s highest honors. He was also recognized with a Visionary Leadership Award from the Cyber Security Summit for creating Minnesota’s Cyber Coordination Cell, a structure that has significantly strengthened statewide cyber readiness.
Brian’s path to leadership began long before these high-profile moments. Growing up in Wisconsin, he was drawn to technology and gaming, which sparked an early curiosity in problem-solving and innovation. At UW-Stout, that curiosity evolved into a rigorous academic experience that shaped his mindset.
Alongside his coursework, he balanced leadership roles, student organizations and National Guard service, joining the Guard during his second year to follow in his father’s footsteps and become more well-rounded. After graduating and commissioning as an Army officer, he served as an infantryman and military intelligence officer before being selected for the Army’s newly established Cyber branch. His UW-Stout degree and STEM background made him a competitive candidate for advanced Army cyber and network engineering schools, where officers are trained in offensive and defensive cyber operations, as well as for national-level assignments, including a deployment supporting U.S. Cyber Command.
“If I hadn’t had that STEM degree from Stout, I wouldn’t have been accepted into those advanced cyber and technical training programs,” he says. “That education led me directly to where I am today.” His work continues to protect communities, advance national security and set standards for cyber readiness across Minnesota.
Brian highlights the UW-Stout faculty that were instrumental in his growth, particularly professors Chris Bendell and Diane Christie. “They didn’t just teach content,” he says. “They helped us transition into adulthood. I felt nurtured and cared for at Stout in a way that really mattered.”
The university’s applied learning and supportive environment shaped his leadership philosophy, emphasizing servant leadership and practical problem-solving.
“You don’t want to lead by compliance,” he explains. “You want to lead by commitment. If people trust you and believe in the mission, amazing things happen.”
Today, Brian applies that philosophy in every aspect of his work, from training soldiers to responding to cyber incidents affecting millions. He remains deeply connected to UW-Stout and is proud of its growth in cybersecurity, applied STEM education and emerging fields like game design & development. “Being #StoutProud means my education wasn’t just a moment in time,” he says. “It’s an intrinsic part of who I am. Any success I’ve had goes back to those foundations.”
Brian Morgan’s story is a compelling example of how a UW-Stout education translates into real-world impact: protecting communities, advancing national security and leading with purpose in an increasingly complex digital world.
