The Memphis District officially said farewell to Commander Col. Zachary Miller during a Relinquishment of Command Ceremony yesterday, June 16, 2022.
At 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 16, several district employees travelled to Beale Street Landing in downtown Memphis. Mississippi Valley Division Commander Maj. Gen. Diana Holland presided over a Relinquishment of Command Ceremony, where District Commander Col. Zachary Miller relinquished command of the Memphis District to Deputy District Commander Lt. Col. Robert Green.
Lt. Col. Green will command the district until he transfers command to Col. Brian D. Sawser in an Assumption of Command Ceremony scheduled for late July.
Col. Miller assumed command of the Memphis District on July 19, 2019. As Memphis District Commander, he was responsible for flood damage reduction, navigation, environmental stewardship, emergency operations, and other authorized civil works along 610 miles of the Mississippi and White Rivers, encompassing a 25,000 square mile area in six states: Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
Col. Miller was also the Recovery Field Office Commander for both Hurricanes Laura and Ida in Louisiana, leading U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operations supporting FEMA's recovery missions.
One of the most significant needs of people impacted by the hurricanes was temporary roofing. To assist with this need, Col. Miller led a key initiative called Operation Blue Roof. This operation provided homeowners with professionally installed fiber-reinforced plastic sheeting (free of charge) to cover their damaged roofs until permanent repairs could be made. Temporary roofing protected the homeowners' property, reduced temporary housing costs, and allowed residents to remain in their homes while recovering from the storm. More than 54,000 'blues roofs' were installed for the two hurricanes combined.
Col. Miller also led the construction of the Tennessee COVID-19 Alternate Care Facility in Memphis. To assist with the demand placed on hospitals due to COVID-19, the Memphis District converted the vacant Commercial Appeal Newspaper Building into a 350-bed, non-acute COVID-19 patient care facility. Construction was completed in an unpreceded 28 days (a project that might typically take a year), operating 24-hours a day and totaling over 250,000 labor hours.
For these efforts, Col. Miller was awarded both the Legion of Merit and the Silver De Fleury Medal.
Col. Miller will next command the 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas. He is the first engineer officer to be selected for this elite leadership assignment.
Col. Zachary L. Miller’s Biography
Col. Zachary L. Miller assumed command of the Memphis District, July 19, 2019. As Memphis District commander, he is responsible for flood damage reduction, navigation, environmental stewardship, emergency operations, other authorized civil works and work for others along 610 miles of the Mississippi and White Rivers, encompassing a 25,000 square mile area in six states: Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.
Col. Miller, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, graduated from the United States Military Academy (USMA) and was commissioned in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1997.
His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the USMA, Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Missouri. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, The Command and General Staff College, and the School of Advanced Military Studies. He completed Senior Service College as a 2017 Secretary of Defense Executive Fellow.
Col. Miller’s command assignments include command of a combat engineer company in the First Cavalry Division; the 21st Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division; and 5th Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade. Col. Miller’s key staff assignments include operations officer for the 20th Engineer Brigade, executive officer for the 27th Engineer Battalion, planner for US Forces-Iraq, HQDA G-3/5/7 strategist at the Pentagon, and engineer staff officer for 8th Army in the Republic of Korea. His initial assignment was in the 92nd Engineer Battalion where he served as platoon leader, company executive officer and battalion construction officer.
Col. Miller’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Iraq and Afghan Campaign Medals, Korea Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, Army Staff Identification Badge, Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
Col. Miller and his wife, Beth, are the proud parents of their son Nathaniel, and daughter, Evelyn.