J. Derek Morgan is a life-long Wabash County resident who graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1998 before attending Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU-C).

As a youth he was involved in Wabash County 4-H as a member of the City Slickers earning ribbons in multiple categories.  While at MCHS , Sheriff Morgan was active in various athletics and was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America.  Sheriff Morgan graduated from SIU-C in 2003, with a Bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice and a minor of Psychology.

In 2003, J. Derek Morgan joined the Wabash County Sheriff's Office as a Deputy Sheriff.  While serving as Deputy Sheriff, Morgan furthered his education earning multiple criminal justice certificates .

Derek and his wife Tia have been married for 13 years and have two children; Clay and Kelsey. Sheriff Morgan's wife Tia, is a Financial Representative for Country Financial in Mt. Carmel.  The Morgan's are active members of the First Christian Church in Allendale.

In 2013, Derek announced  his intention to run for Wabash County Sheriff and won the Republican primary in March of 2014. Derek was then elected Sheriff with a victory in the General Elections in November of the same year. J. Derek Morgan now serves as Wabash County's 14th Sheriff (since 1928) in his constitutional role as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Wabash County.

Since taking office, Sheriff Morgan has been focused reducing costs to the taxpayers in several aspects of the Sheriff's Office. For example, Morgan has overhauled the jail healthcare and food service, worked many shifts as a Deputy and has implemented a K9 program for the department.

Derek serves on the Board for; Wabash County Youth in Action, Wabash County Project Success, Wabash County Emergency Telephones Systems Board, Wabash County Crime Stoppers and the chairman of the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Project Team.