Col. Miller says goodbye to OC-ALC
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --
After four consecutive assignments here, Col. Evan Miller will soon leave Tinker for Warner-Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center vice commander and director of Propulsion for the Air Force will become the 402nd Maintenance Wing commander.
Since arriving in 2007, Colonel Miller said he's been wowed by what the OC-ALC, its leadership and personnel have to offer. Furthermore, the experience he's gained at Tinker has prepared him for what's to come.
"I've learned to appreciate how complex and critically important the center is to our Air Force readiness and warfighting capability," the colonel said. "I've learned to appreciate the professionalism and dedication of the people who work here, and I've come to understand logistics on a whole new level while working here."
When Colonel Miller arrived four years ago, he served as the OC-ALC Plans and Programs director. In 2008, the career logistics and maintenance officer became the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group commander. In July 2010, he was named the OC-ALC vice commander, but instead of immediately stepping into the role, he first served as the 76th Maintenance Wing vice commander. Four months later, the colonel became the center's vice commander.
"Tinker has prepared me better than any other place could have," Colonel Miller said. "We've been very successful with the 76th being identified as the best maintenance wing for the last two years in a row. I got a chance to work in that maintenance wing and learn from great leaders and dedicated patriots who are on the floor every day making us successful.
"I'm going into a similar environment at Robins, and I couldn't have designed a better course to prepare me," the colonel said. "This has been the perfect setup."
As the plans and programs director, the colonel said he helped secure Bldg. 9001 to make it part of the Tinker Aerospace Complex. As the 76th PMXG commander, he helped increase production and stand up capabilities in that facility.
In the colonel's role as the 76th MXW vice commander, he aided Maj. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, who is now special assistant to the Air Force Materiel Command commander stationed at Tinker, and helped "foster a quality and safety-focused culture, while at the same time, delivering more capability to the warfighter than ever before," the general said in a previous article.
The colonel said he is equally as proud of his accomplishments, particularly in his most recent role.
"As the director of Propulsion, I'm most proud of trying to build a team across the enterprise," Colonel Miller said. "That's probably the area where I've had the ability to make the most impact and make significant contributions in terms of the way we manage engine readiness."
That's not to say it didn't come without challenges. The colonel said the most challenging aspect of his recent positions was trying to harness the incredible talents of center personnel working in an environment of limited resources and an increasing need for warfighting capability.
"We want our processes to be lean and efficient and produce results," Colonel Miller said. "We also want to focus on speed and quality at reduced cost. I think we've done a lot, but we're still just scratching the surface."
The colonel will be missed.
"Colonel Miller is a proven leader," said Maj. Gen. David Gillett, OC-ALC commander. "He and his family have been a big part of Team Tinker and we are happy to see him get the opportunity to command at the wing level and look forward to his continued success."
Since arriving in 2007, Colonel Miller said he's been wowed by what the OC-ALC, its leadership and personnel have to offer. Furthermore, the experience he's gained at Tinker has prepared him for what's to come.
"I've learned to appreciate how complex and critically important the center is to our Air Force readiness and warfighting capability," the colonel said. "I've learned to appreciate the professionalism and dedication of the people who work here, and I've come to understand logistics on a whole new level while working here."
When Colonel Miller arrived four years ago, he served as the OC-ALC Plans and Programs director. In 2008, the career logistics and maintenance officer became the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group commander. In July 2010, he was named the OC-ALC vice commander, but instead of immediately stepping into the role, he first served as the 76th Maintenance Wing vice commander. Four months later, the colonel became the center's vice commander.
"Tinker has prepared me better than any other place could have," Colonel Miller said. "We've been very successful with the 76th being identified as the best maintenance wing for the last two years in a row. I got a chance to work in that maintenance wing and learn from great leaders and dedicated patriots who are on the floor every day making us successful.
"I'm going into a similar environment at Robins, and I couldn't have designed a better course to prepare me," the colonel said. "This has been the perfect setup."
As the plans and programs director, the colonel said he helped secure Bldg. 9001 to make it part of the Tinker Aerospace Complex. As the 76th PMXG commander, he helped increase production and stand up capabilities in that facility.
In the colonel's role as the 76th MXW vice commander, he aided Maj. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, who is now special assistant to the Air Force Materiel Command commander stationed at Tinker, and helped "foster a quality and safety-focused culture, while at the same time, delivering more capability to the warfighter than ever before," the general said in a previous article.
The colonel said he is equally as proud of his accomplishments, particularly in his most recent role.
"As the director of Propulsion, I'm most proud of trying to build a team across the enterprise," Colonel Miller said. "That's probably the area where I've had the ability to make the most impact and make significant contributions in terms of the way we manage engine readiness."
That's not to say it didn't come without challenges. The colonel said the most challenging aspect of his recent positions was trying to harness the incredible talents of center personnel working in an environment of limited resources and an increasing need for warfighting capability.
"We want our processes to be lean and efficient and produce results," Colonel Miller said. "We also want to focus on speed and quality at reduced cost. I think we've done a lot, but we're still just scratching the surface."
The colonel will be missed.
"Colonel Miller is a proven leader," said Maj. Gen. David Gillett, OC-ALC commander. "He and his family have been a big part of Team Tinker and we are happy to see him get the opportunity to command at the wing level and look forward to his continued success."
