Outstanding Young Alumni
Morgan Luttrell
Awarded 2011
Morgan Luttrell attended Willis High School and graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. While a Bearkat, he worked three years as head lifeguard in the university’s Department of Recreational Sports.
He enlisted in the Navy in 2000 and was selected for Officer Candidates School two years later. Among the recognition he earned while in training was selection as Honor Man for OCS, Honor Man for BUD/S Class 237, and was an honor graduate of sniper school.
Now a lieutenant with the Navy and a U. S. Navy SEAL, Luttrell has served in Africa, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom on numerous deployments.
He has been recognized many times for his accomplishments and has been awarded two Bronze Stars for Valor; two Navy Commendations for Valor; two Combat Action ribbons; five Sea Service Deployment ribbons; four Good Conduct medals; two Sailor of the Quarter citations; and an Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom medal.
In 2009, Luttrell suffered numerous injuries, including a broken back, in a helicopter crash. At a time when he could have chosen to spend an extended period in recovery, he volunteered for and served a seven-month deployment as team leader for a Navy SEAL team three months later.
Luttrell currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.