With Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Riggs, what you see is what you get. Riggs is an effective and admired leader who leans on his principles of humility, approachability, patience, and empowerment to create a supportive work environment in which members of his team can thrive personally while providing readiness to our nation’s warfighters at peak efficiency.

Riggs is preparing to relinquish his responsibility as senior enlisted advisor for the depot as he moves on to the next assignment in his career of service to our nation when he assumes responsibility as the 4th Infantry Division, Sustainment Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. at Fort Carson. Riggs holds the unique distinction of being the final TYAD Sgt. Maj. for the foreseeable future.

Riggs said he will look back on the assignment fondly, citing the people, the vast array of operations present at the depot, and the crucial services it provides to our nation’s warfighters.

“This has been a good assignment. I’ve learned a lot here and with so much that goes on here, I had the opportunity to see another side of the military. The people of Team Tobyhanna are people who want to do right and serve their country through providing crucial capabilities as well as capabilities at rest should our nation and warfighters require it,” said Riggs.

Inspired by the service of his father, uncle, and cousin, and motivated by the opportunities presented through a career of service, his military career began in May 2001 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Unit Supply Specialist. In a career spanning more than two decades, Riggs has held leadership positions both stateside and overseas and has deployed to Southwest Asia seven times in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve.

During his nearly two-year tenure with Team Tobyhanna, Riggs had the opportunity to work closely with team members across the installation and around the world.

As the depot’s senior enlisted officer, one group with whom Riggs worked particularly closely was the members of the Army’s Personnel Force Innovation (PFI) program working at TYAD.

Sgt. 1st Class Donald Smith is one of the members of the program and lauded Riggs’ care for mission and individual.

“Sgt. Maj. Riggs is one of the best SGMs I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He cares about the people he leads and understands that the Army’s people are its greatest asset,” said Smith. “He follows through and makes sure both the needs of the solider and the Army are met.”

Perhaps the professionals who spent the most time with Riggs were Tobyhanna’s command group. Each member of the command group considered it a privilege to work with the calm, cool, and collected Riggs.

Calling him the “epitome of a selfless leader,” Chief of Staff Kristyn Smith called it “an absolute honor and pleasure to work and serve Team Tobyhanna together,” citing his refreshing perspective and ability to aid in making critical decisions.

Deputy Commander Rob Lantka said, “I have appreciated Sgt. Maj. Riggs’ ability to assess the environment and find the best course of action for both the personal and organizational side,” adding that he learned a lot from his ability to listen and remain calm.

And Depot Commander Col. James L. Crocker, who began his tenure as Commander on the same day Riggs became depot Sgt. Maj., said Riggs’ ability to boost morale has proven invaluable.

“When I come to work, there can be stressful times, but I can always rely on going next door to Sgt. Maj. Riggs. He will lift my spirits and help me to look at things from a different point of view.”

Crocker is eager for Riggs to share this perspective with the next generation of America’s heroes.

“The impact he is going to have on the lives of those young men and women at Fort Carson is incredible. He is absolutely the right leader for that,” said Crocker.

Riggs said the feelings of respect and admiration were mutual for the entire command team, humbly saying he considers Col. Crocker to be “a lot smarter than I am.”

“I have learned a great deal from Col. Crocker and members of Tobyhanna’s command team. I am a better leader for having worked alongside of them and will carry the lessons I learned at Tobyhanna to my next assignment.”

Riggs like many Sgts. Maj. before him, relished the opportunity to connect with the vital support system that steadfastly supports TYAD – our community.

Riggs supported several events and Community Relations Specialist Katie Nolan said Riggs’ genuine care for TYAD’s surrounding community, in particular its veteran community, was evident from day one.

“Upon our first meeting, I was struck by the authentic concern Sgt. Maj. Riggs has for his fellow servicemember, extending beyond Tobyhanna’s gates to the collective military community.”

Nolan said this selfless service will leave a lasting impact.

“Throughout his service at Tobyhanna, he has earnestly dedicated himself to soldiers experiencing challenges and provided steady support to their ambitions. Our community will benefit from the effects of his dedication long after he embarks on this next step in his journey,” said Nolan.

When not volunteering for events or working out at the on-post Mack Fitness Center, Riggs did find time to explore the surrounding community. He reveled in the natural beauty of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s (NEPA) waterfalls, hiking trails, and more perfect for his hobbies of mountain biking, hiking, and shooting sports. Being from Wyoming and having done his assignments on the east coast, neither Tobyhanna’s snow nor cold fazed the aforementioned calm, cool, and collected Riggs. The area, in fact, left such an impression on Riggs that he and his wife Jennipher Cannan named one of his dogs Monroe after the county in which TYAD calls home.

Although he hasn’t quite warmed up to calling it a tray, Riggs took pride in saying he has sampled a staple of NEPA – square pizza. And despite exploring a lot of the delicious local fare the area has to offer, he was pleasantly surprised to find an old favorite nearby – Taco Bell.

As he departs for his next assignment, Riggs leaves Tobyhanna grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the people who make up Team Tobyhanna and looks forward to leading a group of 2,000 American heroes while also pursuing a master’s degree.

Riggs hopes he made a positive impact to morale and culture while making processes more efficient, and that Team Tobyhanna will remember him as a “good dude” and always remember to, as he likes to say, “punch today in the face.”

Team Tobyhanna wishes Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Riggs and wife Jennipher Cannan all the best as both continue their selfless service to our nation.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.

About 3,200 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to deliver integrated C5ISR weapon systems, business systems, and medical sustainment to enable full spectrum combat operations at the point of need.