Warrant Officer Class One Virginia Morris OAM

Warrant Officer Class One Morris commenced her appointment as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd (Australian) Division on 19 January 2026.

Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Warrant Officer Morris enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1990 following completion of her Higher School Certificate. She served with the Army Reserve Recruiting Unit and the 2nd Commando Company, achieving the rank of Corporal. In 1994, she transferred to the Regular Army and, after completing recruit training, was allocated to the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps as a Medical Assistant.

As a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer, Warrant Officer Morris served as a Medic at the Lavarack Barracks Medical Centre and with the 3rd Brigade Administrative Support Battalion. She also served as a Recruit Instructor at the Army Recruit Training Centre. Promoted to Sergeant, she returned to the 1st Brigade, where she continued to serve in several brigade units and at the Robertson Barracks Medical Centre. In 2007, she took a break in service and worked as a Rehabilitation Coordinator with the Australian Defence Force Rehabilitation Program. In 2009, Warrant Officer Morris re-enlisted in the Australian Regular Army. As a Warrant Officer Class Two, she was posted as the 1st Brigade Health and Wellbeing Warrant Officer, serving primarily at the Lone Pine Soldier Recovery Centre, where she provided leadership, management, and support to injured or ill soldiers. She subsequently served as Company Sergeant Major at both the 1st Close Health Battalion and the 10th Force Support Battalion.

Her regimental appointments include Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd General Health Battalion and the 7th Combat Service Support Battalion. Following graduation from the Australian Command and Staff College, she was appointed the Academy Sergeant Major, Command Warrant Officer of the Australian Defence Force Academy. In this role, she supported the Academy, the Capability Technology Management Course, and Australia’s Federation Guard. In 2025, she was posted to the Chief of Army’s Initiatives Group.

Warrant Officer Morris’s operational service includes deployment with Rifle Company Butterworth in 2001, as well as Operation Belisi and Operation Slipper. In 2020, she deployed as the Regimental Sergeant Major for Joint Task Force 646.7 and Joint Task Group 629.2, supporting the Victorian Government’s response to the bushfires and the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Her honours and awards include two Sir Neville Howse, VC awards for outstanding academic achievement in health courses, and the CF Marks Award for exemplary service to the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. She has received the Australia Day Medallion for outstanding service to Defence Softball and a Commander Forces Command Bronze Commendation for her work as the 1st Brigade Health and Wellbeing Officer. In 2021, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for meritorious performance in her Regimental Sergeant Major appointments.

Warrant Officer Morris holds a Master of Military and Defence Studies, a Master of Business, and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. In 2024, she completed the Nominative Leader Course at the United States War College, earning a Certificate of Leader Development.

Warrant Officer Morris is married to Darren and has two children, Tyson and Molly. She enjoys playing softball and basketball.