Col. Joseph Miller, a Waterville resident, takes command of New York air Guard's 224th Air Defense Group

ROME, New York (04/27/2026) — Colonel Joseph Miller, a Waterville resident, became the commander of the New York Air National Guard's 224th Air Defense Group on April 23, 2026 during a ceremony at the Eastern Air Defense Sector headquarters in Rome, New York.

The men and women of the 224th Air Defense Group carry out the mission of the Eastern Air Defense Sector, which his part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and is responsible for the defense of U.S, airspace east of the Mississippi.

Major General Gary Charlton II, the commander of the commander of the New York Air National Guard, praised Miller as an able officer who was ready for this demanding job.

In his remarks, Miller told the Airmen of the 224th that he viewed his role as working ensuring that Airmen are free to do their best.

"My philosophy as your commander is centered on one fundamental principle, I work for you," Miller said. " We must maximize the importance of working for our people, because you are the true strength of this mission."

A 1992 graduate of Mount Markham High School in West Winfield, Miller enlisted in the Air Force in February 1996.

During his time in the active Air Force, Miller served as a technician in the 305th Comptroller Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey; a financial management journeyman in the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York; a military pay journeyman at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; and an enlisted accession recruiter in the 313th Recruiting Squadron in Syracuse.

In 2004, Miller joined the New York Air National Guard and the Eastern Air Defense Sector as an aerospace warning and control systems journeyman.

In 2008, he was commissioned as an officer through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. He then completed the undergraduate Air Battle Manager Course, before returning to EADS.

Miller has held nearly every leadership position in the 224th Air Defense Squadron. He has served as the chief of weapons and tactics, a senior director in the weapons section, and the assistant chief in exercise and analysis and standards and evaluation.

He also served as the assistant flight commander for two different flights and the 224th operations director.

Prior to taking command of the air defense group, Miller was the 224th Air Defense Squadron Commander from July 2024 to April 2026.

The 224th ADG has several squadrons and detachments. The 224th Air Defense Squadron, the 224th Support Squadron, the 224th Security Forces Squadron and a Canadian Element NORAD detachment serve in Rome.

Two geographically separated units, the 223rd Air Defense Squadron and the National Capital Region Coordination Center detachment, serve in the Washington, D.C. area.

For more information about the New York Air National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov. For more information on the Eastern Air Defense Sector and the 224th Air Defense Group, visit www.eads.ang.af.mil.

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