Bob Morgan, a Texas A&M University former student, has been tapped to serve on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP).
Morgan, who graduated from Texas A&M in 1994 with a degree in mechanical engineering, was recently appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve a six-year term on the TCFP, which develops and enforces statewide fire service standards and provides education and assistance to the industry. As commissioner, Morgan will work with fire departments throughout the state to assist with testing and certification for firefighters and fire inspectors. Commissioners also work to ensure that policy changes to state law are upheld.
“I believe that my role on the TCFP is similar to my role as a (protection engineer), which is to always put the public welfare as my first priority and that includes firefighter safety,” Morgan said. “I am very proud to have the opportunity to serve my state and its Residents, including our many firefighters.”
Morgan is the senior fire protection engineer for the Fort Worth Fire Department, where he manages the fire protection plan review, works with fire inspectors, and evaluates the codes and hazardous material policy.
While Morgan is dedicated to his job, he said his goal upon graduation was not to be a firefighter. He first went to work for an insurance company with Texas A&M connections and then moved to an architectural engineering firm. In his role there, he met firefighters in Fort Worth, which led him to join the fire department.
Looking back at his time at Texas A&M, Morgan said his mechanical engineering degree helped with technical aspects in his career, such as thermodynamics and heat transfer. His overall education, from economics to specialized engineering studies, also helped him approach any engineering discipline with greater ease.
“A (Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering) provides a good basis or foundation for moving into more specialized fields of engineering, in my opinion,” he said.
But it isn’t just his degree from Texas A&M that has helped him in life. Morgan said he didn’t know about many traditions at Texas A&M before coming to College Station, and even viewed some of them, such as having to learn the yells, as a burden. Now he encourages students to find ways to socialize with peers, which makes college easier.
“I think I have a much greater appreciation for the camaraderie that comes from the traditions,” Morgan said. “Some of my best friends now were friends from A&M.”
Morgan offers several pieces of advice to students to maximize their time while at Texas A&M, including to not give up if they are struggling with their major and instead seek out help and advice.
“Lastly, I would also always recommend serving your community, i.e. volunteer in whatever capacity you can to help others,” Morgan said. “I promise that you will find it immensely rewarding.”
Morgan is a member of the International Building Code Fire Safety Committee, six different technical committees with the National Fire Protection Association and the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and is chairman of its Fire Advisory Board. He is also a member and past president of the Fire Prevention Association of North Texas and DFW chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.