Sergeant Major Ernest R. Twigg is a native of Avon Park, Florida. He enlisted in July 1996 and was assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.

In January 1997, Sergeant Major Twigg graduated from the School of Infantry aboard Camp Geiger, North Carolina. He was assigned to 3d Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During this time, he served on multiple deployments. With Kilo Company, he deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch and Desert Thunder in the Arabian Gulf, Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, as well as Joint Force Operations in Yugoslavia and the Adriatic Sea. 

In December 2004, he was assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune North Carolina, and was selected to serve as a section leader in the Combined Anti-Armor Team. Upon successful completion of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployment to Al-Anbar Province in Iraq, he was selected to attend Scout Sniper School where he earned the MOS 0317 Scout Sniper. Upon completion he was assigned to the Scout Sniper Platoon and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Scout Sniper Team Leader.

As a Staff Sergeant, he attended Drill Instructor School at MCRD, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon Graduation in 2008, he was assigned to India Company, 3d Recruit Training Battalion for eight training cycles. Subsequently, Sergeant Major Twigg was selected for duty at Drill Instructor School, Parris Island where he worked as a Squad Instructor. He became the Academic Coordinator for the Drill Instructor School at MCRD Parris Island and successfully trained six drill instructor classes.

Sergeant Major Twigg completed his Drill Instructor tour of duty and returned to the operating forces as an infantryman. In July 2012, he was assigned to 3d Battalion, 2d Marines as a Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon Sergeant. He was later assigned as the Company Gunnery Sergeant of India Company and sailed with the 26th MEU on the USS Kearsarge.

Upon returning from his deployment with the 26th MEU, he was then assigned as the Company First Sergeant of Engineer Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 271. He was selected for promotion to First Sergeant in December 2015 and assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion as the Engineer Support Company First Sergeant. From February 2015 to October 2016, Sergeant Major Twigg completed a successful tour of duty, and on October 2016, he checked into MCRD San Diego.

Sergeant Major Twigg was assigned to Fox Company, 2d Recruit Training Battalion where he served as the Company First Sergeant until November 2017, when he was transferred to Golf Company. Sergeant Major Twigg was assigned in August 2018, to Special Training Company, Support Battalion.

In September 2019, Sergeant Major Twigg was assigned to 1st Battalion 11th Marines, where he is currently performing his duties.     

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, 3 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a Combat Action Ribbon. In addition to his military awards, Sergeant Major Twigg holds a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies with a minor in psychology and philosophy from Columbia College.

Sergeant Major Twigg is married to the former Natalia Sanchez from Mendoza, Argentina. Together they have two children: Fernando (23) and Victoria (20).