Don Miller proudly serves as Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1679 in Ventura, California. Originally from Alton, Illinois, he enlisted in the United States Navy Delayed Entry Program in February 1976 and entered active duty on December 3, 1976.

After completing recruit training in Orlando, Florida, Miller attended Builder Apprenticeship Training at the Naval Construction Training Center in Port Hueneme, beginning a 20-year career with the Navy’s Seabees. Early in his career he served at Naval Facility Adak, Alaska, before joining Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4. During this assignment he deployed to Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, where he earned the Navy Expeditionary Medal, establishing his eligibility for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Additional deployments included Adak and Rota.

Miller later served at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme before being assigned overseas as Maintenance Control Director and Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (AROIC) at the Naval Radio Transmitting Facility Totsuka in Yokohama. Upon returning to Port Hueneme, he served as an instructor at the Naval Construction Training Center, training future Seabee Builders.

He later joined Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, deploying to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. During the following homeport period, he was selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer. He subsequently led an eight-member Seabee team to Equatorial Guinea in West Africa to construct a malaria clinic. His final deployment with the battalion was to Mogadishu, Somalia, in support of Operation Restore Hope.

While assigned to the battalion, Miller qualified as a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist. He concluded his Navy career back in Port Hueneme—known as the "Home of the Pacific Seabees”—where he trained Seabees in combat skills and weapons qualifications.

Miller’s distinguished service has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Navy Expeditionary Medal. He also earned the Southwest Asia Service Medalwith Fleet Marine Corps Emblem and two Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal(three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (with four stars), and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with five stars). In addition, he was awarded the Kuwait Liberation of Kuwait Medal and the Saudi Arabia Liberation of Kuwait Medal, reflecting his dedication and contributions during operations in the Middle East.

 After retiring from the Navy, Miller continued his commitment to service through veteran advocacy and community involvement. As Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1679, he remains dedicated to supporting veterans, strengthening camaraderie among members, and serving the Ventura community.

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