Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Michael J. Miller
Cmdr. Michael J. Miller, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He completed flight training in Kingsville, Texas, and received his wings as a naval aviator in June 2007.
Commander Miller’s first operational assignment was the “Diamondbacks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 in Atsugi, Japan, where he deployed aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS George Washington (CVN 73) in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and was selected as the Diamondback Junior Officer of the Year in 2010. Upon completion of his first operational tour, he was selected in July 2011 to be an instructor at the US Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in Fallon, Nevada.
In April 2014, Commander Miller reported to the “Royal Maces” of VFA-27 in Atsugi, Japan, as training officer, where he deployed aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in 2014 and 2015 and was recognized as the Association of Naval Aviation Tactical Aviator of the Year in 2015.
In August 2016, Commander Miller reported to the “Checkmates” of VFA-211 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He deployed in April 2018 aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of operation Inherent Resolve. During this tour he served as administration officer, operations officer and maintenance officer. Additionally, he completed JPME Phase I through the Air Command and Staff College in 2017 and was awarded the Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT) Michael G. Hoff Memorial Attack award as the Strike Fighter Aviator of the Year in 2018.
In January 2019, Miller reported to the Operations Directorate (J3) at US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii as the Theater Exercises Branch Chief (J373). Exercises conducted by his branch included Pacific Sentry 19-3, Keen Edge 20, Pacific Fury 21, Northern Edge 19 and 21, and Valiant Shield 20.
Miller has participated in carrier air operations in every one of the world’s oceans, combat operations in Syria and Iraq, and numerous joint and multinational exercises and operations in the East and South China Seas, the Baltic, Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea, and the Arctic Ocean. He has accumulated over 3,000 flight hours and 725 carrier landings. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), and various other personal, unit and campaign awards.