‘Timing history,’ Dover maintainer helps manage inaugural parade

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Keep a distance of 30 feet between elements and 112 steps per minute, repeated in the mind of an Eagle Wing Airman, who was part of a special team of servicemembers charged with timing and spacing the parade movements during President Obama's inaugural parade.

Tech. Sgt. Steven Miller, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, helped plan and organize the parade route, ensured parade elements maintained proper speed and distance, controlled forward movements, tracked and accounted for stragglers, and ensured the safe and efficient removal of disabled floats or horses from the parade route Jan. 20.

"The entire parade went off without a hitch," said Sergeant Miller, who was nominated by his deployed commander in Iraq for the duty and delighted in taking part in American history. "Where else could you silence two million people for 30 minutes?"

Though he admitted the entire experience was breathtaking, the day before the parade stood out in Sergeant Miller's mind.

"We were placing the finishing touches on the execution of the parade and acting as ambassadors for the Department of Defense as we stood at our checkpoint on Pennsylvania Avenue," said Sergeant Miller. "We answered a million questions and took as many pictures, and met the people that came from all over the world to what many quoted as 'being a day of miracles.'"

Being in the military during two simultaneous wars means a lot to Sergeant Miller, he said. Still, having the opportunity to represent Dover Air Force Base in efforts to support the new Commander in Chief is a memory that will last him a life time.

Sergeant Miller always considered himself a motivated Airman and always strives to personify his core values. Still, that day the word 'salute,' brought a new meaning for him, he said.

"It is an indescribable feeling but during the parade I was actually on the parade route, standing approximately two lanes away from President Obama and his wife Michelle," said Sergeant Miller, who relished the opportunity to render a salute to the new Commander in Chief.

President Obama was not the only figure of authority Sergeant Miller encountered during the trip.

After his parade duties were over, Sergeant Miller and a group of eight other Airmen from across the globe headed to the Pentagon and met the Honorable Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley.

"Meeting the senior leadership of the Air Force was a great experience and is going down as one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that you may never experience again," said Sergeant Miller. "For them to take 30 minutes out of their very busy schedule to meet those who are the back bone of the Air Force says a lot about the character of our senior leaders and how much they truly recognize our daily efforts to support the mission."