Photo By Samantha Mathison | Maj. Damien Miller, (middle) 507th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, poses with...... read more read more
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TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The commander of the 507th Logistics Readiness Squadron here, Maj. Damien Miller, received the Bronze Star Nov. 5 for his meritorious service in Iraq from Jan. 7 to July 8.
The Bronze Star is the fourth highest individual military award, and is awarded to any person who distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight.
An Air Force Reserve Citizen Airman, Miller commanded 95 Airmen of the 442nd Air Expeditionary Squadron at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, the largest Air Force Squadron in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Miller was selected to deploy while serving as the Director of Operations for the 482nd Logistics Readiness Squadron at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. After he transferred to the 507th LRS here, he was granted permission to fulfill his deployment obligation from Homestead AFB, according to the commander of the 507th Mission Support Group here, Lt. Col. Richard Ropac.
“Generally when an Airman moves to another unit, they are replaced on the deployment roster,” Ropac said. “But because of his leadership skills and his relationships with the people in the 482nd LRS, he wanted to deploy with his Airmen.”
As the 442nd AES commander, Miller was responsible for: Logistics, materiel management, vehicle management, transportation, traffic management and aerial port operations. Additionally, Maj. Miller commanded six geographically separated units while exposed to extreme danger from hostile rocket and mortar attacks and credible threats from improvised explosive devices.
“He has commanded every flight within the LRS,” Ropac said. “His level of experience is irreproachable.”
Miller commanded all six coalition aerial ports within Iraq to transport 33,600 tons of cargo and 37,800 passengers on more than 4,500 missions.
His attention to detail and emphasis on safety resulted in flawless nighttime cargo handling operations, to include the safe transportation and resupply of 110 million dollars in hellfire missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. These munitions are essential to ground operations against ISIS, according to his citation.
Further, Miller identified a 1.8 million dollar discrepancy with a vehicle lease contract, and worked to secure a one-year extension with the vehicle vendor and contracting experts from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. This ensured uninterrupted engagements critical to effective Iraqi combat operations and the liberation of Mosul, Iraq.
Miller’s knowledge and expertise of the transportation system expedited the movement of 150 pallets of mail to austere Forward Operating Bases across Iraq.
As commander of the 507th LRS, Miller currently commands 76 Citizen Airmen and manages six flights: Logistics planning, traffic management, vehicle operations, supply, vehicle maintenance and fuels.
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2017 17:52 |
| Story ID: | 254531 |
| Location: | TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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