Brigade Commander

Colonel Michael R. Johnson, a native of San Antonio, Texas, initially served in the United States Army Reserve and was selected the Distinguished Graduate of the 1981 USAR Drill Sergeant School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.  He graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1983, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the basic branch of Armor, and was designated a Distinguished Military Graduate. 

Colonel Johnson has served in the following positions: Tank Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer  (1^st Battalion 67^th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division); Brigade Assistant Operations Officer for Training (2nd Bde, 3rd Infantry Division); Company Commander (D Co, 3rd Bn, 63rd Armored Regiment); Company Commander, HHC, 4th Bn, 69th Armored Regiment; Armor Operations Officer, 3rd Infantry Division; Pacific Rim Operations Officer, Combined Arms Command - National Simulation Center; Chief, III Corps and Fort Hood Training Support Center; Tank Battalion Executive Officer, 3rd Bn, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division; Joints Chiefs of Staff, Political-Military Planner at the Pentagon; Battalion Commander, 2nd Bn, 409th Regiment, 4th TSB; Director of Battlespace, Fort Lewis, WA; Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security, Fort Lewis, WA.

Colonel Johnson is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. He also holds Masters degrees in Business Management and Strategic Studies.

Colonel Johnson's deployments include rotations to the National Training Center (NTC), Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC), Return of Forces to Germany (REFORGER), and Belgium in support of Operation Desert Shield.

Brigade Sergeant Major

SGM Alan Higgs

Sergeant Major Alan D. Higgs was born in Detroit, Michigan.  He enlisted in the Utah National Guard on 31 January 1984 as a Cannon Crewman, MOS 13B. On 29 March 1985, he enlisted in the Regular Army as an Infantryman, MOS 11B.  During his career he has held many positions of responsibility to include:  Team Leader; Squad Leader; Section Sergeant; Range Control NCOIC; Senior Drill Sergeant; Platoon Sergeant; First Sergeant, B Co 1-9 IN; First Sergeant, C Co 1-18^th IN; Operations Sergeant Major, 1-26^th IN; DTAC SGM, 1^st Infantry Division; and Operations Sergeant Major, 1^st Infantry Division.

  His military education consists of the Primary Leadership Development Course, Bradley Crew Evaluator Course, French Commando School, Basic Noncommissioned Officers’ Course, Drill Sergeants’ School, Master Fitness Trainers’ Course, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Ranger School, Advanced Noncommissioned Officers’ Course, First Sergeants’ Course, and is a graduate of the Sergeants’ Major Academy, Class 52.  Sergeant Major Higgs has an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from The City Colleges of Chicago.

Sergeant Major Higgs deployed to Southwest Asia for Operation Desert Storm. He deployed to Kosovo as part of KFOR 2A and 4A. His most recent deployment was with the 1^st Infantry Division, to Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

His military decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (Four Oak leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (Four Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (Eight Oak leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal (Seventh award), National Defense Service Medal (Second award), Southwest Asia Campaign Ribbon (Three Bronze Stars), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Korean Defense, Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Fourth award), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon (Fourth award), NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait).  Sergeant Major Higgs also holds the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Basic Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, and the Ranger Tab.  His foreign awards include the French Commando Badge, German Marksmanship Badge (Gold), and the German Army Sports Badge (Bronze)

Sergeant Major Higgs is a member of AUSA and the Infantryman’s Association.