He is airborne, jumpmaster, and ranger qualified. Briggs graduated from the Ohio State University with honors and as the Distinguished Military Graduate and holds a M.A. degree in Strategic Studies and Public Policy Analysis. He has completed the Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Staff Services School, the Psychological Operations Course, and the Special Operations Regional Studies Course. He has served as a consultant since the 1980s and has published a book and several articles on leadership. AIT began as Advanced Individual Training and has evolved into a fully integrated provider of business services.
Hobbies are freestyle wrestling, scouting, and fishing.
Languages include Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. He holds a secret security clearance. McDaries commanded a company of 140 US paratroopers and managed millions of dollars worth of equipment. He has deployed to Turkey, France, Belgium, Germany, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq as a staff officer and commander. He is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm and participant of Operation Joint Endeavor.