Born and raised in a small community high in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, a literal stone's throw away from neighboring Tennessee, Mike Morton's first experience with the fire service began in 1993 just after he graduated from high school. Since then, good fortune has allowed him to build upon that experience by serving with volunteer, combination, and career fire departments throughout the southern U.S., and by seeking out training and networking opportunities across the nation and in several other parts of the world. He has obtained certifications in several areas during that time, including the following: Airport Firefighter (ARFF), EMT-Basic, Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Inspector I, Fire Instructor I, Fire Instructor II, Fire Officer I, FEMA Incident Command Systems to the ICS 400 level, and Rescue Technician. Mike also served as an enlisted communications specialist in the U.S. Army, and then supported military personnel deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006 by providing fire protection and prevention services at forward operating bases there as a firefighter and company-level fire department officer.

Mike made the big move to Baton Rouge and accepted a position with LSU FETI in August 2008. He is primarily tasked with the role of coordinator and instructor for the municipal recruit academy program.

He remains involved with his volunteer department in North Carolina, where he is an advisor to the chief in regards to management and training as well as a member of the department's board of directors. When he's not busy with fire service activities, Mike enjoys being outdoors, traveling, watching SEC football, photography, and (occasional attempts at) writing.