Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Miller M. Lt. Col. Bryan Miller has the honor of serving our country as the commander of the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest, the 566th Air Force Band. He volunteered for deployments in 2010 and 2012, leading missions in numerous undisclosed locations throughout Southwest Asia and Africa for the deployed AFCENT bands New Directions and Vector. Stateside mission highlights include Rockefeller Center Plaza's Centennial of Flight Exposition, Mount Rushmore's Independence Day Celebration, performances honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, Neil Armstrong, and funeral memorial honors for President Ronald Reagan. He has guest conducted the United States Air Force Band and has produced recording sessions for the USAF Band of Mid-America at Chicago's Symphony Center. A traditional guardsmen, he has served as Leyden High School's Music Department Chair since 1994. Building upon his predecessors' legacy and assembling a staff of dynamic colleagues, students have enjoyed many successes under his leadership. He has also served as adjunct music education faculty for Elmhurst, North Central, and VanderCook Colleges. He founded the Chicagoland Educators Orchestra. Guest conducting engagements include the Salt Creek Sinfonietta, the Wheaton Municipal Band, ILMEA, and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. A CYSO alumnus, he now serves on its Board of Directors. He also served as Music Director for the Illinois Ambassadors of Music 2006-2010 European Concert Tours before resigning this position to volunteer for a second deployment. An active trumpet artist, Lt. Col. Miller had the honor of performing under Daniel Barenboim with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera Brass Section for the Arnold Jacobs Memorial Tribute Concert at Symphony Center. His brass quintet was a semi-finalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. While principal trumpet in the Wheaton Municipal Band, he regularly served as a featured soloist. He is an alumnus of the NIU Jazz Ensemble, a founding member of the Pete Ellman Big Band, and a member of Park Avenue. Lt. Col. Miller's military awards include the Citizen Soldier Award, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Texas Legion of Merit Medal, the USAF Outstanding Unit Medal, the Air Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Small Arms Expert Medal, and the National Defense Medal. Lt. Col. Miller earned his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University and his graduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he served as the Graduate Director of Bands. He attended both institutions on academic and music scholarships. He also holds a Type 75 administrative certificate from Northern Illinois University and a diploma from the Academy of Military Science. Hometown: Naperville, IL