Frank Arriola

Frank was a man of steady motion and deep presence. He moved through life with purpose, focused and driven, and seemed to possess an endless reserve of energy. He carried responsibility with calm confidence. He had a boisterous sense of humor and found joy easily, but beneath that warmth was a man who made others feel safe, supported, and confident that everything was under control.

Frank commanded a room not through volume, but through assurance. He showed up prepared and capable, and when he said he had something handled, people believed him.

Frank proudly served his country through the United States Army and Arizona National Guard, beginning his military career in 1980 and continuing through 2002. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) and completed his service with an Honorable Discharge. His roles included Wheel Mechanic, Generator Maintenance Supervisor, Logistics Supervisor, Operations Supervisor, and Radiation Safety Officer.

He completed United States Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and served with D Company, 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 2nd Armored Division, known as “Hell on Wheels.”

Frank’s military service included active duty during the Gulf War era, with foreign service in Southwest Asia. He was recognized with numerous awards and commendations, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and multiple expert qualification badges. He also completed Smoke Operator Specialist training and Non-Commissioned Officer development courses.

Following his military service, Frank continued serving the public as a Correctional Officer with the Arizona Department of Corrections. It was during this chapter of his life that he met his wife, Billie Jean Arriola, and together they built a partnership that lasted 30 years, grounded in loyalty, perseverance, and deep love.

After their marriage and relocation to Fort Huachuca, Frank held a key position with TMEC (Thunder Mountain Evaluation Center) as part of the Joint Counter Narcotics Task Force, serving as a System Operator and Radiation Program Manager for counterdrug prototype systems. In this role, he operated, evaluated, and maintained advanced inspection and monitoring technologies, provided interpretation of system output, conducted training for government and law enforcement agencies, and managed scheduled maintenance and transportation of multimillion-dollar systems. This work directly prepared him for the career that followed.

Frank later went on to a distinguished civilian career with SAIC and Leidos, spanning more than 12 years, supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection, TSA, NATO forces, and international partners. He served as a Field Service Engineer, Trainer, Program Manager, District Manager, and Regional Manager, becoming a cornerstone of the VACIS (Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System) program.

He was responsible for the maintenance, training, and readiness of inspection systems deployed across the United States and overseas, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Qatar. He oversaw more than 100 systems in active service, helped deploy over 50 Military Mobile VACIS systems in Afghanistan, and played a critical role in transitioning systems from prototype to production. His work directly improved safety, operational readiness, and mission success.

Outside of work, Frank was an avid mechanic and a true grease monkey in the best sense of the word. He could work on nearly any car or engine and loved doing so. He enjoyed camping, fishing, four-wheeling, time outdoors, and winding down with a good glass of whiskey, often shared with conversation and laughter.

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Billie Jean Arriola; his mother, Cecelia Vizzerra (née Arriola); and his siblings, in birth order: Leonard (Beverly), Terry Ann (George), Patty, and Manuel (Christi). He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Manuel “Pa” Vizzerra.

He is also survived by his children: Chasity (Jorge), Kaitlin (Mur), Toni (Billy), Sarah (Alex), and Jessie (Jessica); and by his grandchildren: Sebastian, Scarlette, Cristian, Adrian, Elijah, Oliver, and Adaline. He is further survived by countless nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, and colleagues whose lives were shaped by his steadiness, generosity, and leadership.

Frank was deeply loved and will be missed terribly.

A memorial service with full military honors will be held on December 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Marana Mortuary & Cemetery, 12146 W. Barnett Rd., Marana, AZ 85653.