The Army Public Affairs Association is proud to announce Sgt.1st Class Nicholas S. Nofziger as the 2025 recipient of the Master Sgt. Marcia J. Triggs Award of Excellence. Nofziger is the Army Element / Army Production noncommissioned officer in charge at the Defense Media Activity at Fort Meade.
The Triggs Award is an annual recognition for an Army NCO in grades E-6 through E-8 who has demonstrated outstanding and sustained excellence in leadership. The ideal candidate is one who has made significant contributions to improving the professionalism of the public affairs/visual information career field, has made contributions to the Army Public Affairs and Visual Information mission and practice that will endure for future generations, and is considered so outstanding as to have the potential to become a PA/VI Sergeant Major.
“We are so honored to recognize Sgt. 1st Class Nofziger this year," said Rebecca Wriggle, Army Public Affairs Association president. “Sergeant Nofziger's selfless and dedicated service, his excellence as a leader, and his many exceptional accomplishments are truly in keeping with the excellence of Master Sgt. Triggs, for whom the award is named."
As outlined in his award nomination, Nofziger represents the essence of the Warrior Ethos, and is the true embodiment of an NCO and public affairs leader. His professionalism, work ethic, leadership traits, and his stewardship of the public affairs/visual information field personify the core tenets of this prestigious award. Nofziger has left an undeniable impact on the organizations and Soldiers under his charge, including the storied 1st Armored Division and, most recently, the Defense Media Activity (DMA).
Nofziger was a junior NCO at Fort Bliss, Texas, in March 2019. He made an instant impression with his passion, raw energy and attention to detail. Nofziger got noticed quickly for his leadership qualities, willingness to learn, and teamwork when his unit deployed to Southeast Afghanistan supporting Operation Resolute Support in July 2019. His sound judgement and resilience operating in a dynamic environment were astounding, despite his junior rank on his first deployment. Nofziger conducted more than 25 combat/advising missions under rough conditions and rugged terrain covering Soldiers and leaders in complex mission sets. He earned two impact awards with Combat “C” device and a battlefield promotion to Staff Sgt. in Afghanistan.
Upon redeployment, Nofziger leveraged his overseas experience in his role as the 1st Armored Division public affairs operations NCO. His leadership and expertise were vital in crisis communications and interoperability during the COVID-19 pandemic keeping the Fort Bliss and El Paso communities informed during a difficult time dealing with the grips of a worldwide pandemic.
Nofziger then served as the Public Affairs Chief for the 4th Cavalry Multi-Functional Training Brigade at Fort Knox. In this role, he was primarily responsible for advising his Brigade Command team and the command teams of ten subordinate Active and Army Reserve battalions by increasing command knowledge of public affairs programs, capabilities and
understanding the information environment at the strategic and operational level. Additionally, he served as the sole Observer, Coach / Trainer for 17 Army Reserve public affairs units, preparing numerous public affairs Soldiers for worldwide mobilization in support of Army and Department of Defense communications objectives. In this vital role, he completed military occupational specialty-specific and agnostic certification for four distinct missions, including extending his influence and strengthening the public affairs partnership with the Military History Detachment community, certifying in the latter duties and responsibilities.
Nofziger was selected to serve as the Special/Personal Staff Platoon Sergeant as the most junior NCO of the platoon to train and maintain tactical and technical skills of 20 Unit Public Affairs Representatives. He implemented the first doctrinally-sound command policy establishing guidance for subordinate commands’ digital platform use, increasing public awareness of his higher headquarters’ mission by 250% while increasing brigade manning by 25% through internal Army recruiting methods without a budget.
Nofziger has established himself as a burgeoning leader in the public affairs/visual information community. These qualities impressed the Regimental Public Affairs Sgt. Major and senior public affairs enlisted leaders across the force as Nofziger was selected to be the first-ever Training with Industry (TWI) Communications Fellow at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. In this role, he not only expertly completed his program requirements, but he helped bridge the civilian-military gap connecting the American people to its Army, highlighting veterans and further strengthening the relationship between the Army Public Affairs Center and his TWI organization. He utilized his wealth of public affairs knowledge to seamlessly communicate Disneyland priorities to internal and external media, and governmental audiences, while also identifying key communications improvements to benefit Army Public Affairs. His contributions and knowledge from his TWI experience led to three major policy and program proposals/changes made to Army Public Affairs headquarters leadership to improve overall communication efforts across the enterprise. Additionally, his professionalism in this role led to the creation of a long-lasting TWI Fellowship position and relationship at the Disneyland Resort for the foreseeable future enhancing the Army public affairs career field long-term.
Nofziger is also the epitome of a servant-leader. Since 2017, he has helped several Soldiers overcome personal struggles and professional setbacks to achieve promotions, succeed in professional military education courses and earn personal accolades. Today, he leads 30 Army enlisted personnel as the Army Element NCO in charge at DMA, shaping their professional development and, in turn, helping elevate the U.S. Army’s brand through sound communication objectives by highlighting the Army’s 250th birthday and the Army Transformation initiatives.
Additionally, his care for Soldiers and coaching style helped prepare six Defense Media Activity Soldiers for appearances before semi-centralized promotion boards, all of whom earned promotable status, including one Soldier who previously faced separation for Army Body Composition. Lastly, a career-long steward of behavioral health resources, he has fought to end the stigma surrounding these life-saving services by encouraging his Soldiers to seek help when needed.
"Sgt. 1st Class Nofziger is our 14th recipient of the prestigious MSG Marcia J. Triggs Award of Excellence," Wriggle said. "We could not be more thrilled and honored to recognize him this year. He is exactly the caliber of NCO to join our 13 previous recipients as the crown jewels of our community. The members of the Board of Directors and I look forward to honoring Nick at our annual awards reception this fall in Crystal City, Va. Until then, we invite our career field and community to reach out and congratulate this most exceptional of PA NCOs, Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas S. Nofziger!"
The Triggs Award is named after Master Sgt. Marcia J. Triggs, an Army print journalist and public affairs noncommissioned officer. She deployed to Iraq twice with the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and was working at the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs at the Pentagon during the terrorist attacks on 9/11. She remained on active duty until her death.
The Army Public Affairs Association would again like to take this opportunity to thank Bell for their enduring sponsorship of the Master Sgt. Marcia J. Triggs Award for Excellence. Their support makes possible this program to recognize superior Army Public Affairs and Visual Information noncommissioned officers.
Sgt. 1st Class Nofziger will receive his award at the association's annual awards reception Oct. 14th, in Crystal City, Arlington, Va.