Rear Adm. Francis D. Morley is a native of Phoenix, Arizona. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a commission as an ensign from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at San Diego State University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and holds a Master of Science in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, Defense Systems Management College, George Washington University National Security Studies Program and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government National and International Security Program.

Morley served operationally as an F/A-18 pilot in Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 192 deployed with USS Independence (CV 62), VFA-83 deployed with USS George Washington (CVN 73) and command of VFA-87 deployed with USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). He also served as assistant navigator deployed with USS Enterprise (CVN 65). During these tours, he participated in operations Southern Watch, Desert Fox, Noble Eagle, Joint Guardian, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

His shore tours include service as a test pilot in Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, including being an F/A-18 E/F engineering, manufacturing and development test pilot where he was the fifth pilot to fly the super hornet and first to land aboard ship; Chief, Air and Missile Defense (J3) U.S. Pacific Command; deputy program manager (PMA-265) where he directed the final year of development and fleet introduction of the EA-18G Growler; program manager, F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265); and most recently, as vice commander of Naval Air Systems Command headquartered in Patuxent River, Maryland.

In September 2016, he assumed duty as director, Navy International Programs.

Morley has been recognized as the Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic ship handler of the year and the Department of the Navy program manager of the year. He has more than 3,500 flight hours and 750 carrier arrested landings. He has flown more than 35 different types of aircraft, including the F/A-18A-F, EA-18G, AV-8B, F-14, F-15, F-16 and MiG-29.