‘Building the right stuff’
Mike Morris is shown here with an M1A1 120 mm
U.S. Army Main Battletank (left) and
a Stryker NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle.
When Mike Morris travels for his job, handling or participating in reviews at the plants and solving the problems of the day, he often jumps onto a tank, ship, submarine, or jet to check out his company’s products firsthand.
Morris, ’80 MSA ’93, is senior director of production support for General Dynamics Land Systems based in Sterling Heights, a division of General Dynamics Corporation.
The company manufactures and services land and amphibious vehicles, mostly for the military.
“We build weapons systems that provide a benefit to our country, to our soldiers, and to our safety,” Morris says. “You hope you don’t have to use them, but when we do, we’re building the right stuff.”
General Dynamics has production plants and engineering prototype facilities throughout the United States and in Canada. The company also conducts or supports operations in Australia, Egypt, Iraq, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, South Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, and New Zealand.
Morris and his staff handle production support activities such as product assurance, operations engineering, manufacturing planning, facilities, process development, and research.
Morris enrolled at CMU when he worked for Chrysler Corp. and earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management.
It was the beginning of his relationship with CMU that he continued with a Master of Science in Administration degree.
“The MSA helped in terms of management skills and working in groups,” Morris says. “I learned the finer details related to business and project management.”
Though both his degrees are from off-campus programs, Morris feels a strong connection to the CMU community and Mount Pleasant campus.
His wife, Laurie, is a big CMU fan. Their daughter, Jamie, got her bachelor’s degree in 2002 on campus and an MSA in 2006 through off-campus programs. And their son, Scott, earned his bachelor’s degree in 2007 on campus.
Mike and Laurie established the Morris Family Endowed Scholarship that provides scholarship money for three areas: the College of Communication and Fine Arts, the College of Business Administration, and off-campus programs.
And the Morrises attend CMU football games – not only for the football, but they also bring grills, food, and all the supplies for a major tailgating spread. They set up in the student section and feed the masses.
“Even though I didn’t have the campus life, you can go to off-campus programs and still be part of the community,” Morris says.
He says his eight-year tailgating tradition provides fall-season fun and one way for his family to continue the connection with their alma mater.
“When I’m at the grill I’m having the time of my life,” he says. •
