[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 134 (Monday, September 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF COLONEL JAMES C. MILLER FROM THE 
         UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND OREGON AIR NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 12, 2011

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
Colonel James C. Miller on the occasion of his retirement from a long 
and outstanding career in the United States Air Force and the Oregon 
Air National Guard.
  Colonel Miller began his career in the Air Force through the ROTC 
program at Central Washington University in 1984. Early in his Air 
Force career he qualified as a pilot in the T-37 and the F-15 Eagle 
aircraft and served honorably throughout the United States. In 1999 he 
became a member of the Oregon Air National Guard as an instructor pilot 
in the Fighter wing at Kingsley Field, Oregon, and has since served in 
numerous jobs of increasing responsibility at Kingsley Field. 
Throughout his career in the Air Force, he became an accomplished 
pilot, exceeding 4,300 flying hours in the F-15 Eagle.
  Colonel Miller most recently served as the Commander of the 173rd 
Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field. During that tour of duty his 
exceptional leadership and tenacious dedication to duty to both the 
State of Oregon and the United States of America resulted in an 
outstanding set of accomplishments.
  He commanded over 800 airmen, oversaw over $20 million annually in 
operating costs, and orchestrated over 44,000 Class A accident-free 
flying hours. Under his leadership the wing accepted 19 new aircraft 
and converted the aircraft to new engines in only five months, while 
maintaining the highest mission capable rate in the Air Force.
  Colonel Miller's visionary leadership was instrumental in the 
establishment of Kingsley Field as the Air National Guard's premier F-
15 training unit and the Wing's selection as the sole F-15 fighter 
training unit in the U.S. Air Force.
  Colonel Miller served his community as well as his military mission. 
He spearheaded the efforts of the most successful series of Combined 
Federal Campaigns in Kingsley Field history, raising more than $500,000 
for local non-profit agencies. He re-invigorated the Kingsley Field 
Military Affairs Committee, directly involving local civic and Chamber 
of Commerce leaders in supporting Kingsley Airmen. He created the 
``Pilot for a Day'' program, allowing local underprivileged and 
challenged youth to experience what it's like to be an Air Force pilot.
  Throughout his long career, Colonel Miller served his country and his 
state honorably, and, on behalf of the people of Oregon's Second 
District, I want to thank him for his service.

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