Michael Morlan holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Organizational Management from Azusa Pacific University. He has taught at College of the Canyons, a junior college in Valencia California for 4 years and with the University of Phoenix as a criminal justice instructor and Area Chair for 15 years. He served 20 years in the Army and Airforce as a military policeman and criminal investigator. He retired as a Captain in the California Air National Guard. He recently retired as a Sergeant/Detective III with the Los Angeles Police Department serving 27 years with them. He has been the Officer in Charge of several undercover units to include Property Crimes Unit, Narcotics, Gangs, Burglary, Robbery, and an Auto Theft Unit specializing in chop shops and auto theft.

Prior to starting a career teaching I worked in the Human Services field and then in the Criminal Justice System in different capacities throughout the country. After 6 years in US Army, I received my Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communication and minor in Adolescent Development from the University of Montana (UM) in 1990. I stayed in Missoula and worked as an adolescent care worker in a therapeutic residential facility, then as a court case manager and school counselor. After returning to UM to get my master’s degree (96) in Sociology/Criminology I was employed as a juvenile probation officer and then as the program manager of Montana’s first Youth Drug Court Program. I then moved to Washington DC to become faculty for the National Drug Court Institute traveling the country training court teams. I then was off to Vancouver, Washington to manage multiple court programs for Clark County (WA) Superior Court. After getting my certification in Court Management (06) from the National Center for State Courts I moved to Green Bay, WI to work for the Wisconsin Supreme Court as a Court Administrator.

I then settled in Florida in 2008 to pursue more recreational activities; specifically, scuba diving and stumbled upon teaching Criminal Justice and Sociology courses at Eastern Florida State College & Indian River State College in addition to instructing at Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Corrections & Law Enforcement Academy. I started teaching at SCC in the Fall of 2019.

I was born in Rhode Island but claim the Pacific Northwest as home. I stay physically active as a certified referee for USA Rugby, USA Hockey and US Lacrosse. I’m also a certified PADI scuba diver instructor and spent winter breaks in the beautiful Florida waters diving. When I’m not working you can find me remodeling my 1950’s house, out playing with my furry boys Opie and Bandit or traveling the country refereeing, scuba diving, skiing, hiking, and enjoying the great outdoors.