Kevin Miller

Kevin Donald Miller, age 48 of Gulfport, passed away on Monday, November 15, 2021.

He was a native of Fremont, California and graduated from George Washington High School in San Francisco, CA.

Kevin was preceded in death by his grandparents, Mark Everett Miller, Vera Emily (Van Hecke) Miller, Donald Howard Jackson and Barbara Joan (Morrison) Jackson.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Bridget Duhe’ Miller; his father, Mark Steven Miller (Wendy) of Tracy, CA; his mother, Susan King  Jackson Savage (Steve) of Fort Bragg, CA; his stepmother, Glenna Day Miller of Elk Grove, CA; his sons, Kaleb N. Miller (Caitlin Suntheimer) and Brendan T. Miller; his sister, Kamrhan Miller Farwell (Scott); his brothers, Paul Miller, James Miller (Diana Cardoza), and Jefferson Miller; his inlaws, Francis L. Duhe’, Jr. (Myrna Castro); his sisters-in-law, Bonnie Duhe’ Cochran and Dolores Duhe’; brother-in-law, Brian E. Duhe’; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Lt. Miller enlisted in San Francisco, CA on March 3, 1993.  After completing basic training at Great Lakes Recruit Training Command, he completed A-school in Millington , TN and was rated as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate.

His first tour of duty was an assignment to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, Rota, Spain.  While attached to work center 41U, he repaired F404 engines that replenished F/A-18 squadrons deployed in the Mediterranean Sea.

In 1997, he was selected to attend Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, FL with orders to Patrol Squadron 30 for initial P-3 Flight Engineer training.  Upon graduation, he was designated as a Naval Aircrewman and report to Partol squadron FORTY-FIVE           in Jacksonville, FL.  During his tour with the Pelicans, he deployed to Panama, Puerto Rico, Iceland, and Italy to perform counter drug and anti-submarine warfare operations.  He earned his positional and instructor Flight Engineer qualifications.

Returning to Patrol Squadron THIRTY as an instructor in 1999, LT Miller earned his Mater Training Specialist designation and was certified to release aircraft Safe for Flight.

LT. Miller returned to sea duty with the Marlins of Patrol Squadron FORTY deploying to Iraq and Qatar in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD.  While deployed to Japan and the Philippines in 2005, he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer and earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College.  As a Flight Engineer, he amassed over 3,900 hours in the P-3 Orion.

Selected for a commission as an Aviation Maintenance Limited Duty Officer in 2007, he completed Officer Development School in Newport, Rhode Island and reported to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment, Isawa, Japan.

His assignments included Aircraft Division Officer, Maintenance Material Control Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and Assistant Officer in Charge.

Returning to sea duty with the Black Knights of HS-4, LT Miller completed a Westpac deployment supporting Operation Tomodaichi after the Fukushima tsunami struck Japan and FIFTH Fleet operations in the Persian Gulf.  Upon return he assisted in the transition to the MH-60S and re-designation as HSC-4.

LT Miller’s tour was cut short after a tumor was found near his pancreas.  He underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation while attached to Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific.  Upon completion of his treatment, he reported to HSC-3 working as weekend shift MMCO and Assistant AMO.

After returning to full duty status, he reported to HSM-41 as the Maintenance Material Control Officer in July of 2014.  During his tour, the squadron set records for flight hour execution, aircraft availability, set the high water mark for maintenance program compliance during the Maintenance Program Assist Inspection, and won the Ellyson Award for excellence in a Fleet Replacement squadron for the second consecutive year.

LT Miller’s awards include the Air Medal (3rd Strike Flight), Navy commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal.

Kevin was an avid golfer, enjoyed volunteering, and loved to travel.  He loved the southern way of life, gulf coast seafood, and rooting for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Naval Flight Engineers.

Donations may be made in honor of Kevin to Gary Sinise Foundation-Supporting Wounded Military Heroes and First Responders and to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital-National Cancer Institute.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 PM until 1:45 PM, Monday, December 6, 2021, at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport.  A procession will leave the funeral home to Biloxi National Cemetery, for a Graveside Service at 2:30 PM.