Neil Andrew Higgins
U.S. Army 1984 – 2009
Born in London, England and raised in Jamaica, West Indies, Neil Higgins was commissioned in the United States Army as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in 1984. Some of his key operational assignments during his 25 years of Army service include 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in various roles including Commander of the Parachute Rigger Company during Operation Desert Storm then as Division Support Command Assistant S-3 for the 101st Air Assault Division (Airborne). Other assignments followed at Fort Bragg in the Army Special Operations Command. There he commanded Alpha Forward Support Company in the 528th Special Operations Support Battalion and served as the 3d Special Forces Group S-4. In 2000, he relocated to Naples, Italy, to serve as Executive Officer for the Allied Forces South Assistant Chief of Staff J-4. Neil left Southern Italy for a Northern Italy assignment with the Southern European Task Force (SETAF) in Vincenza¸ Italy, where he was the Deputy G-4. Next, he served a 14-month tour as the Deputy CJ-4 and Supply Division Chief for Combined Task Force 76 in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Neil completed his career as the SETAF Army Liaison Officer to Commander Sixth Fleet (COMSIXTHFLT) in the Joint Training Readiness and Exercises Branch in N35 Future Operations.
Neil transitioned seamlessly to the civilian workforce in 2009, serving for the next ten years as N7 Deputy Director of Training, Readiness and Exercises Directorate at COMSIXTHFLT. He was responsible for the supervision, management, and planning of all training exercises needed to prepare the Maritime Operations Center to conduct joint maritime operations in U.S. European Command and U.S. African Command. Neil transferred to Navy Recruiting Command, Millington, Tennessee (TN), to serve as the Transformation Officer responsible for the transition of the Navy Recruiting Districts into Navy Talent Acquisition Groups. His last assignment was as Deputy N7 Director for the Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit. He retired in December 2024 with over forty years’ service to our nation.
During his distinguished military service, Neil earned the Master Parachutist Badge, the Rigger Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and numerous foreign parachute jump badges. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He is also the recipient of the Quartermaster Distinguished Order of Saint Martin. His civilian awards include the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and the Army Commander’s Award for Public Service.
Neil earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications from MTSU and a master’s degree in Logistics from the Florida Institute of Technology.
He and his wife of 39 years, the former Jane Simms, have three children, Meghan and Taylor, and son Jonathan. Both Neil and Jane are extremely active with the Saint William Catholic Church in Millington, TN. Neil is involved with the Knights of Columbus, while Jane is involved with the Catholic Women’s Club. Their hobbies include skydiving, golf, pickleball, and being supportive grandparents to Palmer and Paxton. Neil was nominated for Veteran of the Month by his good friend, Butch Moeller, the February 2018 Veteran of the Month.