MG Riley retiring after 37 years in Army

Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Don Riley, Sr. Engineer, Arcent Coordination Support Element - Afghanistan (right), speaks with a servicemember and civilian contractor prior to a morning brief at the Combined Operational Intelligence Center at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Riley will soon be retiring after 37 years of service in the U.S. Army. (Photo by: Cpl. Brandon Babbitt)  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

05.07.2010

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Central   

Story by: Cpl. Brandon Babbitt

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- After 37 years in the United States Army, Maj. Gen. Don T. Riley, Senior Engineer, Arcent Coordination Support Element – Afghanistan, will be leaving the only employer he has ever known.

Forty-one years ago at the age of 18, Riley left the west coast for The United States Military Academy at West Point. In 1968, during the peak of protests against the Vietnam War, the boy from the liberal state of California saw West Point as an opportunity to pay for a challenging and rewarding education.

The opportunity also gave Riley, the son of a WWII Navy Veteran and avid sports fan, the chance to play baseball in college, which he did for two years.

Riley, who currently lives in the Washington D.C. area at Ft. Belvoir, said the initial commitment to the U.S. Army was nine years. Four of those years were spent at West Point, followed by the mandatory five years serving as an officer for Uncle Sam.

"I didn't start out having a plan to spend my career in the Army or become a general officer," said Riley. "I just seemed to really enjoy the challenges, responsibilities, and in turn, the forward movement a career in the service offered me while taking it one assignment at a time."

He says his father and past bosses were important mentors to him and that he has kept a notebook over the years of leadership styles that he liked and disliked and used what he observed to build his own leadership style.

Riley, who also has a master's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California-Berkley, has developed his leadership style over the years since becoming a 2nd Lt. in the engineering branch in June of 1973. He has since served in a variety of positions supporting U.S. efforts, most notably in the Cold War, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Riley and his wife, Roz, a retired 21-year Army Nurse, have four children. Devin, the oldest, is 30 and lives in Kansas, Darren 28, is the company commander of an infantry unit at Fort Hood, Texas, Daniel, 22, is a senior at Virginia Tech and Kaitlyn, 21, will soon be starting her senior year at Liberty University close to her parents' home in the beltway area.

Riley's main role in Third Army's mission in Afghanistan has been to focus on getting the mountainous nation a reliable and safe water strategy that will help the people there long after coalition forces leave.

Third Army's ACSE-A is a team of teams with experienced leaders and Soldiers whose mission is to set the U.S. Central Command theater for future operations by expanding the sustainment base, increasing industrial capacity, and integrating and synchronizing sustainment, distribution, communications and civil engineering functions.

Riley sees the job he and those supporting Third Army that he works with as important, and one where they are exceeding their goals.

"We are way ahead of schedule as our initial hope was to have 50 percent of the materials on the ground to support our mission in Afghanistan by this time, however, we are at 99 percent, which is amazing all things considered," said Riley. "A lot of that credit goes to great staff of professionals who work under Maj. Gen. Vangjel's command there."

Riley, who plans on exploring all of his opportunities after retirement, wishes to do something where he can make a difference in the lives of others.

He says his advice to other officers working their way up the ranks is to do a good job of taking care of people and keep everyone focused on the mission.

Riley, a quiet man who says he relies on God heavily to guide him in life, reflects back on his military career with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

"These 37 years have been wonderful to me," explained Riley. "It has been inspiring to be able to serve my country and make a difference."

Riley will have a retirement ceremony on June 4, 2010, at the Headquarters of the Army Corps of Engineers in D.C. with his expected retirement date being Sept. 1.

• Date Taken: 05.07.2010
• Date Posted: 05.07.2010 04:18
• Story ID: 49274
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW