Kenneth P. Miles

Preferred Name: Ken
Date of Birth: February 29, 1928
Highest Military Grade: 0-8 – Major General
Hometown: Capitol Heights, MD
Headed West Date: April 27, 2014

General Miles was born in Capitol Heights, Md., in 1928. He graduated from John Marshall High School, Richmond, Va. He has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master of science degree from Stanford University, Calif., both in electrical engineering. He graduated from the Defense Weapons Systems Management School, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in 1968, and from the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa., in 1970.

General Miles entered the aviation cadet program and received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., in September 1949. He then served as a flight instructor at several bases in Texas before he was assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in July 1953, flying F-80 and F-86 aircraft.

In March 1954, General Miles was transferred first to the 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in Korea, and then to the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in Japan, flying F-86s as flight commander.

He returned to the United States in August 1956 and was assigned as a flight commander flying the all-weather F-86D, then as plans and requirements officer with the 3556th Pilot Training Wing at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas. During this assignment, General Miles participated as a primary firing aircrew member of the Air Training Command Weapons Team at the first Air Force Worldwide Weapons Meet (Project William Tell, 1958).

General Miles then joined the Nike-Zeus and, later, the Advanced Ballistic Re-entry Vehicle System Office, AFSC, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., where he served as project officer, test director and missile site commander in the Atlas Test Operations Branch. He entered Stanford University in the Air Force Institute of Technology program in June 1964 and received his master’s degree in electrical engineering in July 1966.

He returned to flying duties in August 1966 as an F-100 pilot at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., and deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in March 1967, serving as commander of the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron, TAC, at Phan Rang Air Base. During this tour of combat duty he flew 337 missions in the F-100.

In April 1968, General Miles returned to the United States and attended the Defense Weapons System Management School at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He then assumed duties as deputy director of the Airborne Warning and Control System program office at L.G. Hanscom Field, AFSC, Mass. He left AWACS in July 1969 to attend the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa.

In August 1970, he was assigned to the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, TAC, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., first as vice commander and then as commander. Under his command the unit became the first combat-ready F-111 wing in the U.S. Air Force.

Moving to Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y., in August 1972, General Miles assumed command of the Northern Communications Area, AFCS. In July 1974, he assumed command of the European Communications Area, AFCS, at Lindsey Air Station, Germany, with additional duty as deputy chief of staff, Communications-Electronics for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

In June 1975 he was named deputy for control and communications systems, Electronic Systems Division, L.G. Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

General Miles assumed his present duties as chief, MAAG, Iran, in March 1976.

His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with Combat “V” and three oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with seven stars.