Col. James C. “J.C.” Miller is the former commander of the 433rd Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Miller retired on Dec. 31st, 2023 after 35 years of military service.  He directed the operations and activities of approximately 600 people assigned to the operations group and six subordinate units. The Alamo Wing is also the home for all C-5M Super Galaxy aircrew training. The 433rd Operations Group is comprised of the 433rd Operations Support Squadron, 68th Airlift Squadron, 356th Airlift Squadron, 733rd Training Squadron, 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and the 433rd Contingency Response Flight. The group provides combat-ready Airmen for worldwide combat commitments and is the Formal Training Unit for the C-5M aircrew, which graduates more than 700 aircrew per year.

Col. Miller enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in 1988 as a KC-10 aircraft maintenance (crew chief) journeyman and later transferred to the Texas Air National Guard on C-130s. He later received his commission after graduating from Texas A&M University - Texarkana in 1993. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, where he completed undergraduate pilot training as the outstanding graduate of his class.

He arrived at his follow-on assignment with the 337th Airlift Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts in August 1997; there he was upgraded to a C-5 instructor aircraft commander. And then in January 2001, he was assigned to the 68th Airlift Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) to continue his progression in the C-5. Col. Miller now holds the highest proficiency as a Formal Training Unit Tactical/Air Refueling Evaluator Aircraft Commander. He manages a $19 million budget and 330 aircrew members. Col. Miller has led missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has flown missions in support of humanitarian efforts such as Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, Harvey, and Maria. He has more than 6,000 flight hours. Prior to serving as the Operations Group commander, the colonel was Deputy Commander at the 433rd Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University - Texarkana, Texas
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, by correspondence
2001 Advanced Instrument School, Randolph AFB, Texas
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2005 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2006 Flight Safety Officer School, Kirkland AFB, New Mexico
2010 Safety Board Presidents School, Kirkland AFB, New Mexico
2016 Master of Business Administration, Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Alabama

ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1988 - June 1993, Aircraft Maintenance (crew chief) Journeyman, KC-10, 98th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
2. June 1993 - August 1996, C-130 Flight Engineer, 136th Air National Guard, Naval Air Station, Dallas, Grand Prairie, Texas
3. August 1996 - August 1997, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Mississippi
4. August 1997 - January 2001, C-5 Pilot, 337th Airlift Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts
5. January 2001 - March 2003, C-5 Pilot, 68th AS, Kelly AFB, Texas
6. March 2003 - January 2006, C-5 Evaluator Aircraft Commander, 68th AS, Lackland AFB, Texas
7. February 2006 - June 2006, C-5 Evaluator Aircraft Commander, 339th Test Flight, Robins AFB, Georgia
8. June 2006 - December 2013, Director of Operations, 68th AS, Lackland AFB, Texas
9. January 2014 - June 2019, Deputy Group Commander, 433rd OG, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
10. June 2019 - December 2023, Commander, 433rd OG, JBSA-Lackland, Texas

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior evaluator pilot
Flight hours: More than 6,200
Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-1, and C-5A/B/M

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with oak leaf clusters,
Kosovo Campaign Medal with oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Student Undergraduate Pilot Training Distinguished Graduate
C-5 Pilot Distinguished Graduate
Air Education Command Commander Trophy and the Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 9, 1996
First Lieutenant Aug. 9, 1998
Captain Sept. 29, 2000
Major Sept. 29, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 29, 2009
Colonel June 14, 2019

(Current as of Jan 2024)