JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – With an Air Force career spanning more than 26 years, Brig. Gen. Patrick Miller was well-prepared when he took command of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center in July.
A distinguished graduate of the Penn State University Air Force ROTC program with a degree in civil engineering, Miller earned his commission and entered the Air Force in December 1997. He went on to a variety of assignments, including serving as AFIMSC vice commander from July 2018 to June 2020.
Today, he leads an organization of over 2,200 people operating at more than 72 locations worldwide. Together, they provide full-spectrum installation engineering services to Department of the Air Force facilities across the globe.
We asked the new AFCEC commander from Patton, Pennsylvania, a few questions about his life, career, and his thoughts about being a member of the AFIMSC team.
Can you please tell us a little about your career leading up to this point?
My Air Force journey navigated through six base-level assignments, serving as commander at the squadron, group, and wing-level. I also served at five deployed locations, to include commander for the 474th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The most formative period of my career was as an instructor and course director at Air Force Institute of Technology’s Civil Engineer School, then called the Civil Engineer and Services School. I had the privilege of introducing initial skills training to students in three different year groups, many of whom are now serving as squadron and group commanders. The assignment honed my communications skills, expanded my network, and exposed me to the various leadership styles and philosophies across our CE community.
The two most rewarding assignments were as the 88th ABW commander at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where I led the installation through the COVID pandemic, and as the deployed commander for Task Force Phoenix after Tyndall AFB was struck by Hurricane Michael. I believed the COVID pandemic was our opportunity to reimagine the way we do business. We are bound only by our imagination. At Task Force Phoenix we were able to take care of the home team at Tyndall. We gave the folks there the time and space to focus on their personal recovery while we took care of the base.
What about your new role has you most excited?
After serving outside the CE enterprise for the past nine years, I’m thrilled to be back with the CE family. I bring with me an operational perspective honed by my wing command and PACAF experience. AFCEC and the greater AFIMSC enterprise are a true force multiplier, particularly when it comes to delivering critical expertise and capabilities to our warfighters. Our specific focus on operating, sustaining, protecting and defending installations, and on enabling Airmen is exceptional. We may have no lack of wicked problems, but I’m confident we have mission-focused, people driven leaders armed and equipped to deliver wins for our Air and Space Forces.
What do you want the AFIMSC team to know about you?
My anchor point will always be family – Beth, Adam, and Justin serve and sacrifice just as much as me, if not more. As for a leadership philosophy, the four words I’ll speak most about are character, competence, opportunities and choices. My job is to arm and equip the team to excel. I don’t want anyone hiding behind a process or policy. At the end of the day, we are the decision makers. I’ll work hard to build a climate conducive to taking acceptable risk, open to loyal dissent, and with the autonomy to make decisions.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m a huge reality TV fan, anything from Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Big Brother to Real Housewives of whatever. I simply love people watching, seeing how folks deal with pressure and conflict. It helps me as a leader. Plus, it reminds me that my life isn’t so crazy or complicated.
What do you like most about serving in the Air Force?
My upbringing was built around family and community. We didn’t have much. In fact, for a large portion of my youth I grew up on food stamps, a medical card, and hand-me-down clothes and toys. That is not to say I didn’t have new stuff. Life got better each year due to my parents, who taught me the value of hard work, taking care of each other, and never giving up. I took my ROTC scholarship to pay for the first year of school, then I planned to drop it. Instead, I found myself surrounded by people with similar morales, values and ethics. So, I decided to keep the scholarship and join the Air Force to pay it back. Once in, I enjoyed the work and again found myself surrounded by good people. What I like most about serving is the people I have the privilege to serve each day. No one works for me; I serve them. I thrive on their success and in helping them through tough times.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
I’m humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve as the AFCEC commander and look forward to leading this team to continued success.