“Make Every Day Count” Col. Max Miller ’59 Reflects on 70 Years of USAFA Legacy

On July 11, 1955, out of tens of thousands of applicants, just 306 young men stepped through the gates of Lowry Air Force Base and into history. They were the first cadets of a bold new experiment—the United States Air Force Academy. Among them was Col. Max Miller—a cadet whose journey would span combat missions, academic leadership, and decades of service. His story is not just history—it’s still unfolding.

That first summer was unlike any other. The cadets wore tailored khakis, marched under the guidance of Air Training Officers—many from West Point and Annapolis—and stood in formation for a nationally televised dedication ceremony. Walter Cronkite was there. The Thunderbirds flew overhead. And the Academy, still without a permanent home, came to life.

But Lowry was only the beginning. In 1958, the cadets moved to the newly constructed campus in Colorado Springs, nestled beneath the Front Range. There, the Academy’s permanent home took shape—complete with Mitchell Hall, Harmon Hall, and eventually the iconic Cadet Chapel rising toward the sky.

For Max Miller and the Class of ’59, the move to Colorado Springs was more than a historic change of scenery; it was the continuation of a mission. They weren’t just the first to march. They were the first to lead, to graduate, and to carry the Academy’s values into every corner of the Air Force

Seventy years later, Col. Miller is still serving. Still mentoring. Still showing up.

In a special Heritage Minute interview with Lt. Col. Steve Simon ’77, Col. Miller shared his reflections on a life shaped by service, legacy, and the enduring spirit of the Class of 1959.

Heritage Minute Special: Interview with Col. (Ret.) Max Miller ’59

Host: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77

Guest: Col. (Ret.) Max Miller ’59

Topic: 70 Years of USAFA Legacy

Highlights from the Interview with Col. (Ret.) Max Miller '59

Air Force Career & Vietnam Service

Steve Simon: Good day and welcome to the Heritage Minute special podcast. I'm your host, Lieutenant Colonel, retired Steve Simon, class of '77. Today I have a very special guest, Colonel retired Max Miller, a member of the Academy's inaugural class, the class of 1959. Among other things, we're going to discuss a momentous event that took place 70 years ago. Sir, thanks for visiting with us today.

Max Miller: Thank you, Steve, and thank you for the opportunity.

Steve Simon: I typically start at the beginning with these conversations asking you grad guests about their cadet days. That, however, is going to be the meat of our discussion today, so let's save that for later. Dr. Miller, please tell us about your Air Force career.

Miller: Like most of my classmates, I went into pilot training. I flew KC-135 tankers in the Strategic Air Command with the 306th and 19th Bomb Wings. After earning a master’s in electrical engineering from the University of Colorado, I taught EE at the Academy for a year and was selected to pursue a PhD. But the Air Force had other plans—they noted I’d been on flying status for nine years and hadn’t served in Vietnam. So, I volunteered.

I flew 600 combat missions in various models of the C-130. After returning, I earned my PhD at the University of Denver and came back to teach at the Academy. That was the most enjoyable assignment of my career.

Simon: Electrical engineering wasn’t exactly a crowd favorite.

Miller: No, it wasn’t. I served as the executive officer in the department. I was the core course director. I worked hard to make the core courses engaging and useful, helping cadets see how the material could serve them in their careers.

I got to go as a tutor. Of course, in those days, they did not go commercial air, so I got flying time in the aircraft, and I got to witness the hockey and all, which I still enjoy. I got to tutor the cadets, so they didn't flunk out in electrical engineering.

Then, after four years here, my next assignment was another four-year tour at the Air Force Flight Test Center. There, I really had the most interesting assignment of my career because we did the flight test. I directed the test and engineering for the DC-130H aircraft and many of what we called RPVs, remotely piloted vehicles. They're now called UAVs, unmanned aircraft vehicles. We did the BGM-34C and we also tested the ground and air-launched cruise missiles.

After that interesting assignment, I went to what I think was probably my most important assignment, and that was at Systems Command as a systems program office director for a mature program, the Air Force Satellite Communication Program, AFSATCOM. My job there was to turn it over to Logistics Command. It was already fielded, and we had a lot of inputs from the users. It was a very important job, but it was a system that had already been designed and implemented.

But my good fortune was that a short time after I got there, the follow-on system was proposed. They asked that the Air Force, Army, and Navy get together because each of us had proposed an extremely high-frequency program which was going to be endurable and had a lot of features that the other system did not.

My good luck was that the Air Force was assigned to lead it over the Army and Navy. It was a joint program, and we had many users. My timing could not have been better. I found that to be true in the Air Force: if you get to a place and you do a good job, things just happen to go well. Opportunities arise.

Then, my final assignment after 24 years, I spent two more years as the director of engineering here in Colorado Springs at Space Command.

Simon: You were also involved with athletics?

Miller: One of my favorite things that I was allowed to do was go on athletic trips with my favorite hockey team. Yes, I tutored cadets on athletic trips—especially with the hockey team. Back then, they didn’t fly commercial, so I got flight time and stayed connected with the cadets academically. It was a great way to ensure they didn’t flunk out of EE.

After shaping minds in the classroom, Max returned to shaping machines in the field. His next chapter brought him to the cutting edge of aerospace innovation.

Post-Retirement & Family Legacy

Simon: What have you been doing since retiring?

Miller: My retirement lasted about two days. I joined R&D Associates as a consultant, then worked for Titan Corporation on Milstar for 12–13 years. Civilian jobs gave me more time with my son—skiing, coaching baseball, serving as a Scoutmaster. He spent all 12 years in the same school district, which is rare for Air Force kids.

He asked once, “Do I have to go to the Air Force Academy?” I told him, “Just be in a position to turn it down.” He did just that—and chose USAFA, graduating 40 years after me in 1999.

Just as he invested in his son’s journey, Max continued investing in the Academy itself—through memorials, traditions, and support for fellow Falcons.

Harmon Memorial & Class Contributions

Miller: I helped develop the bust of General Harmon, working with his children. Later, I was part of the team that created the Harmon Memorial Plaza. Read more about the Harmon Bust project.

I also helped dedicate the Challenge Bridge in 2004 and briefed cadets during in-processing. Explore the story behind the Challenge Bridge.

As class president, I organize funerals and support classmates. We started the ring melt tradition and helped fund NCLS. I also co-founded Home Front Cares after 9/11, which provided over $1 million annually to military families.

Founders Day & July 11, 1955

That first day at Lowry wasn’t just historic—it was cinematic. Cadets in tailored khakis marched under the gaze of Air Training Officers and the lens of Walter Cronkite. The Thunderbirds soared overhead, marking the Academy’s birth not with paperwork, but with presence and pride. For Max Miller, it was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to making every day count.

Simon: Let’s talk about July 11, 1955—the day USAFA truly began.

Miller: My dad served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. When President Eisenhower signed the legislation in 1954, my dad showed me the newspaper and said, “What do you think of this?” I applied, not expecting to be selected. But when I was, I felt honored and committed to making every day count.

That first day was focused on learning to march for the dedication ceremony. We wore tailored khakis and followed our Air Training Officers—mostly West Point and Annapolis grads. Walter Cronkite was there filming for national news. It was surreal.

For Max, the Academy’s birth wasn’t marked by paperwork—it was marked by presence, purpose, and the sound of marching feet.

Simon: You’ve said April 1, 1954, was the Academy’s conception, but July 11, 1955, was its birth.

Miller: Exactly. April marked authorization. July was when cadets, officers, and buildings came together. That’s when the Academy truly began.

Max Miller recalls marching in formation for the dedication ceremony, filmed by Walter Cronkite for national news. The flyovers, the Thunderbirds, the tailored khakis—it was a day unlike any other.

Forever First: Class of ’59 Legacy

Miller: Every class thinks it’s the best—but ours was first. As my classmate Jerry Garber said, “Other classes may be better, but the Class of 1959 will always be 'firster'.”

The Class of ’59 didn’t just graduate—they pioneered. Max recalls their many “firsts” with pride:

• First Graduate: Brad Hosmer

• First Rhodes Scholar: Brad Hosmer

• First All-American: Brock Strom

• Only Wing Commander to Serve More Than Once: Bob Beckel

• First Astronaut: Karol Bobko

• First Air-to-Air Combat Kill: Bob Blake

• First USAFA Superintendent: Brad Hosmer

• First USAFA Commandant: Bob Beckel

• First General Officer: Pete Todd

• First Four-Star General: H.T. Johnson

And many more. I try to help cadets today see what’s possible. The Air Force has shaped my entire life—from cadet to retiree, and even now.

Even in moments of levity, Max’s presence leaves a mark. One symbol of that legacy? A cowboy hat with its own story.

The Cowboy Hat

Simon: We always see you in your cowboy hat. What’s the story?

Miller: I joined a ski club after Vietnam. One team we raced against wore cowboy hats—so we surprised them by wearing ours. They still beat us, but the hat stayed with me. It’s become my trademark.

Final Reflections

Seventy years after stepping onto the Academy grounds, Max Miller is still showing up. His story reminds us that legacy isn’t a moment—it’s a lifetime of moments, lived with purpose.

Col. Max Miller’s story reminds us that legacy isn’t just what we leave behind—it’s what we continue to build, day by day. May we all strive to serve with the same humility, courage, and enduring presence.