Colonel Jason Arriaga graduated from Texas A&M University in 1998 and received a U.S. Army commission as a Second Lieutenant in Aviation Branch.
COL Arriaga’s operational assignments include 18th Aviation Brigade - Corps (Fort Bragg, North Carolina), 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (Fort Bragg, North Carolina), 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (Fort Hood, Texas), and 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade (Fort Bliss, Texas). COL Arriaga served in many traditional and non-traditional Army leadership roles from Platoon Leader in 1-159th Aviation Regiment to Brigade Executive Officer of 1st Air Cavalry Brigade. COL Arriaga commanded 3-501st Assault Helicopter Battalion in Fort Bliss, Texas, from 2015 to 2017 prior to commanding the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade in Fort Riley, KS.
Outside the continental United States, COL Arriaga served as a Detachment Executive Officer and Embassy Liaison in support of Operation Bahamas, Turks, and Caicos (2001-2002). He commanded the Central Command Flight Detachment in Qatar during the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). COL Arriaga deployed to Regional Command-South, Afghanistan, as a Company Commander in Task Force 2-82, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (2007-2008). COL Arriaga joined Task Force 2-227, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, in Regional Command-North as the Task Force Executive Officer (2011-2012). He also commanded Task Force 3-501 in Europe, supporting the European Deterrence Initiative (2016-2017).
COL Arriaga’s broadening assignments include two years in Aviation Branch, Operations Division, U.S. Army Human Resources Command. While at Fort Knox, he was assigned as the Aviation Branch Executive Officer and Lieutenant Colonel Assignment Officer. COL Arriaga also served on the Army Staff G-3/5/7, Aviation Directorate, as the Army Cargo and Utility Helicopter Fleet Resource Officer. His most recent staff experience concluded in 2021 as the Land and Sea Branch Chief, Force Application Division, Directorate of Requirements and Capabilities, J8 – Joint Staff.
COL Arriaga graduated from the U.S. Army Air Assault and Airborne Schools. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army UH-60 Maintenance Test Pilot Course.
COL Arriaga holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University, an International Master of Business Administration from University of South Carolina, and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College.
COL Arriaga is married to Sara Arriaga. They have two children, Sylvia and Zavien.