THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 1, 1994 TAG: 9411010288
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Adm. Paul David Miller was lauded as a visionary Monday by top military and civilian leaders from the United States and NATO as he stepped into retirement after nearly 30 years in the military.
Miller brought units from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines together for joint training and missions in his role as commander in chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command, culminating with the recent Haiti operation.
``He designed and executed a plan which can only be called brilliant for going in and returning democracy to that troubled land,'' said Defense Secretary William J. Perry.
``He played a most instrumental role in virtually revolutionizing the command and control capabilities of (U.S. Atlantic Command), teaching more than one trick to me,'' said Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Miller, 52, a Norfolk Catholic High School graduate and the youngest naval officer to reach four-star rank, was relieved by Marine Corps Gen. John J. ``Jack'' Sheehan during ceremonies aboard the carrier Enterprise - Miller's flagship when he served as commander of Cruiser/Destroyer Group Three.
Sheehan takes over as the 18th commander-in-chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command and the 16th Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic - the first time since the commands were established more than 40 years ago that anyone other than a Navy admiral has held that post.
As a 54-year-old four-star general, Sheehan now heads one of the nation's largest commands, responsible for the training and deployment of all U.S. forces within the Atlantic Command and for all NATO operations in the Atlantic theater, outside the European continent.
Sheehan's latest position was at the Pentagon on Shalikashvili's staff, as director for operations.
Miller's command change and retirement ceremony brought nearly 1,000 family members and guests, many representing a number of the 16 member NATO nations.
Defense Secretary Perry presented Miller the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Miller also received his 5th Distinguished Service Medal from the Navy, plus one each from the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.
In his remarks recalling Miller's involvement in the latest Haitian crisis, Perry said the successful mission there is due in large part to Miller's leadership.
``He built a plan that gave President Clinton and myself the maximum flexibility on that fateful Sunday when president Carter, Sen. (Sam) Nunn and Gen. (Colin) Powell were in Port-au-Prince,'' Perry said. ``We made full use of it, recalling more than 60 planes full of troops just hours before the paratroopers were to jump.''
``There are people alive today in Haiti who otherwise might be dead,'' Perry said. MEMO: [Staff color photos appeared on Page A1 on the same date.]
by CNB