COL Arriaga’s operational assignments include, the United States Army Europe-Africa (Wiesbaden, Germany), 1st Combat Aviation Brigade (Fort Riley, Kansas), 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (Fort Hood, Texas), 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade (Fort Bliss, Texas), 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (Fort Bragg, North Carolina), and 18th Aviation Brigade–Corps (Fort Bragg, North Carolina). COL Arriaga served in many traditional and non-traditional Army leadership roles from Platoon Leader in 1-159th Aviation Regiment to Brigade Commander of 1st Combat Aviation Brigade. COL Arriaga commanded 3-501st Assault Helicopter Battalion in Fort Cavazos, Texas, from 2015 to 2017. He commanded the 1st Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade in Fort Riley, Kansas, from 2021 to 2023.

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 and the 1st Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade in Europe, in support of the European Deterrence Initiative (2016-2017 and 2022).

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. He was as the Land and Sea Branch Chief, Force Application Division, Directorate of Requirements and Capabilities, J8 – Joint Staff from 2019-2021. Prior to serving as the U.S. Army North Chief of Staff, COL Arriaga served as the USAREUR-AF Deputy Operations Officer and before that the Director of Aviation Operations, USAREUR-AF.

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. He graduated from the U.S. Army Air Assault and Airborne Schools. COL Arriaga is also a graduate of the U.S. Army UH-60 Maintenance Test Pilot Course.

COL Arriaga is a graduate of the U.S. Army UH-60 Maintenance Test Pilot Course, Air Assault School, and Airborne School.