Brett J. Morash, Ph.D

Brett Morash is the Chief of the Funding Branch for the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, encompassing thirteen States and the District of Columbia, managing over $2.5B in contracts. Dr. Morash is a retired U.S. Naval Officer who has served on five ships and in an overseas task force in East Africa. He also had his final tour at the U.S. Naval War College's faculty in the College of Strategic and Operational Leadership. 

Before working at HUD, Dr. Morash worked primarily in the military veteran space at local and national nonprofits, including Services for the UnderServed in New York City, serving homeless veterans during the height of the homeless veteran crisis, and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a national Foundation with a mission to ensure injured veterans and their families are thriving long after they return home by finding and funding innovative programs in communities where veterans, their families, and caregivers live and work.

He holds multiple degrees, including a B.S. in Marine Transportation from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a master's degree in Business Administration from Framingham State University, and a master's in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Additionally, he was awarded a doctorate in the Humanities at Salve Regina University in May 2015 with his dissertation entitled "The Rise and Fall of the Union of Islamic Courts." He has been an adjunct professor at Norwich University since 2012, teaching a wide range of courses, including Strategy and Policy at both the master's and undergraduate levels.

He was awarded Salve Regina University's 2018 Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award for his work in the nonprofit space and community. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Naval Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals, and various unit and service awards. Dr. Morash has also been awarded the 2006 Surface Navy Association Award for Operational Research, the 2004 Naval War College Naval Intelligence Admiral Ike Kidd Award, the 2004 Atlantic Fleet Tactician of the Year Award, the 2003 Surface Navy Association Arleigh Burke Award for Operational Excellence, and 1994 Atlantic Fleet Shiphandler of the Year Award. He lives with his wife and two children in New Rochelle, New York.