CDR Griggs is from Gulf Breeze, FL. He graduated from the University of Florida in December 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in Astronautics. CDR Griggs was commissioned in November 2000 through Officer Candidate School. Upon completion of flight school, CDR Griggs was winged a Naval Aviator in May 2002.
He reported to the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), HSL-41, at NAS North Island, CA where he was trained to fly the SH-60B Seahawk. Upon completion, he reported to his first fleet squadron HSL-47 in May 2003. At HSL-47, he served as ADP Officer, Line Division Officer, and Detachment Maintenance Officer. He deployed on USS PINCKNEY, USS SHOUP, USS MOBILE BAY, and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN for the first ever Bravo-to-Sea deployment in support of Operation Unified Assistance.
Following HSL-47, in May 2006 CDR Griggs reported to HT-18 at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, FL. As a helicopter instructor pilot, CDR Griggs was designated a standardization instructor pilot for instrument, low level navigation, formation, shipboard/deck landing, search and rescue (SAR), and night vision goggle (NVG) operations. During his tour, he served as flight leader and flight operations officer, and was selected as the Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) Training Command Instructor Pilot of the Year for CY 2008.
After a successful shore tour, CDR Griggs reported to the Operations Department onboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. There, CDR Griggs served as Assistant Air Operations Officer and Air Transfer Officer, deploying twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
CDR Griggs reported to HSL-48 at NS Mayport, FL in August 2011. There he served as the squadron Safety Officer, Detachment ONE OIC onboard USS FORREST SHERMAN in support of Eastern Mediterranean ballistic missile defense (BMD), and squadron Operations Officer.
CDR Griggs earned his Master’s in Space Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA in December 2016. CDR Griggs spearheaded his cohort’s capstone design project engineering a constellation of small satellites to produce high resolution, persistent imagery; as well as, conducted focused research on flexible space systems control.
CDR Griggs’ last assignment was the Safety Officer onboard the Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier, USS RONALD REAGAN, and is now proud to serve as the Executive Officer of The Citadel’s NROTC unit. He is married to the former Taesha Spanfellner. They welcomed their son, Broden James, in December 2014.