He has been associated with the Center since 1980 in various capacities, including heading its former Institute of Economics and Politics. A U.S. Senate aide early in his career, he has also been a research associate at the Japan Center for International Exchange. Morrison has served as the international chair of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council since 2005, and is a member of other national and international bodies that promote trans-Pacific security and economic cooperation. His Ph.D. is from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he also once taught on Southeast Asia. He speaks and publishes widely on U.S. Asia policy issues and the countries of the region, and gives special emphasis to regional cooperation, particularly the APEC process.