New Commander

Provided Photo

Colonel Joseph Miller, a Waterville resident, became the commander of the New York Air National Guard's 224th Air Defense Group during a ceremony at the Eastern Air Defense Sector headquarters in Rome.

Major General Gary Charlton II, the commander of the New York Air National Guard, praised Miller as an able officer who was ready for this demanding job.

In his remarks, Miller told the Airmen of the 224th that he viewed his role as working ensuring that Airmen are free to do their best.

A 1992 graduate of Mount Markham High School, Miller enlisted in the Air Force in February 1996.

During his time in the active Air Force, Miller served as a technician in the 305th Comptroller Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey; a financial management journeyman in the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Air National Guard Base in Syracuse; a military pay journeyman at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; and an enlisted accession recruiter in the 313th Recruiting Squadron in Syracuse.

In 2004, Miller joined the New York Air National Guard and the Eastern Air Defense Sector as an aerospace warning and control systems journeyman.

In 2008, he was commissioned as an officer through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee.