Brigadier General Horace W. Miller is commander, Civil Air Patrol-U.S. Air Force, with headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. The general directs and coordinates Air Force support of the Civil Air Patrol throughout the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
He also serves as executive director of the Civil Air Patrol and manages the day-to-day activities of the federally chartered, benevolent, civilian organization, which is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.
The Civil Air Patrol is an organization of aviation minded patriots who are committed to serving their fellow citizens through assistance during local and national emergencies, encouraging the public to learn more about air and space matters, and motivating young men and women to take leadership service roles in their community.
General Miller was born in 1929, in Quitman, Miss., and graduated from Quitman High School in 1947. He then attended the University of Southern Mississippi, graduating in 1952 with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. He received a master of science degree in business administration from The George Washington University in 1964. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1959, Air Command and Staff College in 1964 and Air War College in 1971. All three schools are located at Maxwell Air Force Base.
The general was commissioned through the aviation cadet program and awarded his navigator wings at Mather Air Force Base, Calif., in 1953. After completion of combat crew training at Langley Field, Va., he was assigned to Ellington Air Force Base, Texas, as an instructor navigator. In 1954 he entered pilot training at Kinston, N.C., and subsequently was awarded pilot wings at Greenville Air Force Base, Miss., in 1955. After additional training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., he was assigned to the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing, Chambley Air Base, France, flying F-86s.
From 1958 to 1963, he was assigned as a flight instructor at Craig Air Force Base, Ala. He then attended Air Command and Staff College and subsequently was assigned as a member of the Air Training Command standardization and evaluation team at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. In 1967 General Miller completed F-4 combat crew training at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., and was assigned to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. He served as a flight commander and assistant operations officer, and flew 161 combat missions (100 missions over North Vietnam). When he returned from the Republic of Vietnam in 1968, he served as an education staff officer at Air University headquarters, Maxwell Air Force Base. After two years in this capacity, he attended the Air War College. General Miller then returned to Randolph Air Force Base where he directed the Air Training Command standardization and evaluation team for two years.
The general transferred to Webb Air Force Base, Texas, as deputy commander for operations in 1973. Two years later he was named base commander at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and after approximately one year he took command of the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus. In July 1978 he returned to Headquarters Air Training Command as assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, and remained in that position until March 1979 when he become the command's inspector general. He assumed his present duties in August 1980.
He is a command pilot with more than 5,600 flying hours logged in jet fighters and trainers. He has 230 combat hours. General Miller's military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
He was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1979, with date of rank May 23, 1979.
(Current as of March 1981)