Lt. Col. Bryan M. Miller is the commander of the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest (566th Air Force Band) in Peoria, Illinois. Supporting the U.S. National Guard’s federal and state missions, he is responsible for providing world-class musical products that enhance community relations and military support throughout a 10-state area of responsibility.
Lt. Col. Miller received a commission in the Illinois Air National Guard and took command of the 566th Air Force Band, 182nd Airlift Wing, in July 2000. He volunteered for deployment in 2010 and 2012, leading U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band missions in numerous locations throughout Southwest Asia and Africa. During his extensive career, Lt. Col. Miller has also commanded stateside mission performances at Mount Rushmore’s Independence Day celebration, Rockefeller Center Plaza’s Centennial of Flight, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, memorial honors for President Ronald Reagan, Illinois gubernatorial inauguration ceremonies and ceremonies honoring Neil Armstrong, the Tuskegee Airmen and the Warrior Games. Additionally, he has provided manning assistance for active duty Air Force bands, including guest conducting the U.S. Air Force Band and producing recording sessions for the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America at Chicago’s Symphony Center. In 2021, he volunteered to serve as a liaison officer for the Illinois National Guard’s COVID-19 Military Vaccination Augmentation Team mission.
In his civilian capacity, Lt. Col. Miller is a career music educator. He has served as music department chair for the national award-winning Leyden High School music department since 1994 and has also concurrently served on the music education faculty for three Chicagoland colleges. Lt. Col. Miller has served as a presenter, conductor or clinician for varied organizations including the Midwest Clinic, National Association for Music Education, Music for All, Illinois Music Educators Association, Illinois High School Association and Illinois Grade School Music Association. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Chicagoland Educators Orchestra. As a trumpet artist, he performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera brass sections for the Arnold Jacobs Memorial Concert in Chicago’s Symphony Center and is a founding member of Chicagoland’s renowned Pete Ellman Big Band.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Music, Music Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
1991 Master of Music Performance and Literature, University of Notre Dame du Lac, Notre Dame, Ind.
2000 Academy of Military Science, I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2007 Specialist in Education, Education Administration, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
2008 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Combat Airman Skills Training, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2012 Combat Airman Skills Training, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000–Present, Commander, 566th Air Force Band, Peoria, Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Illinois Military Medal of Merit
Abraham Lincoln Medal of Freedom
Illinois Military Long and Honorable Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Illinois Military Attendance Medal with “11” device
Texas Medal of Merit
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1991 Semi-finalist, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, South Bend, Ind.
2000 Academy of Military Science Citizen Soldier Award, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2008 Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award, Quinlan & Fabish Music Company, Lafayette, Ind.
2015 Note of Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra alumnus, Chicago
2019 National Medal of Arts, presented by the U.S. president to the musicians of the armed forces, Washington D.C.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Legion
American School Band Directors Association
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors
Honorary Lifetime Member, Tri-M Music Honor Society
Illinois Music Education Association
National Council of Music Program Leaders, The National Association for Music Education
National Guard Association of Illinois (lifetime member)
The National Association for Music Education
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 30, 2000
First Lieutenant June 30, 2002
Captain June 20, 2004
Major July 16, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel July 16, 2015
(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 2022)