Miller served as ARMS’ first program manager

Col. David P. Miller. CONTRIBUTED

Veteran of the Week

MADISON – Colonel David P. Miller entered the U.S. Army in 1976 after being commissioned at graduation from Pennsylvania State University.

His training began at Ft Knox, Ky. as Armor and Cavalry Officer. He was assigned to Combat Experimentation and Development Command at Fort Ord, Calif. as Operations Officer.

In 1978, he completed flight school, followed by assignment to Fort Campbell, Ky. with the 2/17 CAV.

Miller then completed various tactical leadership positions at Fort Rucker, Ala. He was selected for “Training-With-Industry” at the new Apache production facility in Mesa, Ariz.

By 1985, he was a Contracting Officer in St Louis, MO., supporting Apache, Kiowa and aviation procurements. While Assistant Project Officer for Kiowa Warrior, he earned a master’s degree from Webster University.

Miler was sent to Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. As Director of Quality Assurance, Flight Test & Safety, he unified military operations supporting all DOD contracts outside the country.

At Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., he was Contracting Division Chief and the first Program Manager of Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Support (ARMS) Initiative. He feels that ARMS PM was one of his greatest contributions to the nation’s industrial base.

ARMS allowed the Army to rent portions of idle, ammunition plants. Revenue from property rental paid operation, maintenance and environmental cleanup at no cost to the government, Miller said. Since 2003, ARMS has created more than 3,500 jobs and, as of 2010, generated economic impact of $6.9 billion.

Selected for Command of DCMA-Mesa in 1999, Miller returned to the Apache production facility. Secretary of the Army selected him as 05 Acquisition Commander of the Year for 2000.

Leaving the command as colonel, Miller reported to PEO Aviation and settled his family in Madison. Years later, he joined Camber Corporation and continues support of PM Apache.

“I attribute my successes to a gracious Heavenly Father and his Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO), my wife Becky,” he said. The Millers’ sons are Matthew 32, American Airlines pilot based in Chicago, and Dr. Jonathan, 30, of Boise, Idaho, an emergency room doctor and in Air Force Reserves.

In 2005, the Millers built a home and started cattle farming. They both are active with church ministry in Madison and Huntsville.