Pride in Public Service

FAA Strategic Planner Joe Miller reflects on the evolution of diversity and inclusion in the federal government during his 15 years with the agency, and how coming out influenced his professional ethos.

However, it was the encouragement of his parents, who instilled in him the importance of hard work that helped his experience in aviation grow. “They didn’t want me flying an ultralight with ‘lawnmower engines.’” After attending a flight school in Florida, Miller enrolled in West Virginia University, where he studied economics and made his first connection with the FAA during his final semester. Miller accepted an internship with the agency, which ultimately opened the door to many other opportunities.

Fourteen years later, Miller has taken on multiple roles and responsibilities that have spanned across the FAA and other government agencies. “While my interest for aviation started as a young kid,” Miller says, “I’m very thankful for the support and encouragement my parents provided growing up.”

Following his passion and seeing how it aligns with the FAA’s mission is what continues to make Miller motivated in public service. “As a lead strategic planner, the agency faces important opportunities, but also significant challenges in the years ahead.” Miller notes how the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the financial condition of federal, state, and local governments, as well as a whole host of the aerospace industry stakeholders:

When asked about how his queerness has influenced his professional life, Miller admits growing up as a gay man wasn’t always “champagne, goldendoodles, rainbows, and unicorns.” However, he credits coming out with being able to mature physically, emotionally and socially: “Judy Blume once said, ‘Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.’ Facing my fears was the first step to being comfortable in my own skin and understanding that I control my destiny.”

However, LGBTQA+ visibility in the federal government has changed significantly within the past 10 years. Miller recalls, “When I first joined the FAA in 2007, I would refer to my partner as my ‘friend’ and would shy away from any dialogue around my life outside of work. I’d do this to gauge the environment in the hope it would not stifle my career.”

But Miller admits it’s important the dialogue continues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. “[FAA Administrator Steve Dickson] has been, in my opinion, an ally at continuing the diversity, equity and inclusion dialogue through town halls.”

Great progress has been made, but there is still more work to be done. When asked how the FAA can support one of the agency’s priorities to build a more equitable aviation industry, system and recruit a workforce that is reflective of the population, Miller believes one solution is “recruiting a future workforce. I think it very important at a young age. Engage them early on.” He also recommends engaging with agency associations like GLOBE as stakeholders in policies dealing with diversity and inclusion.

On a more personal note, he also fondly remembers the time he had the opportunity to fly in a P-51 Tuskegee airmen with the Commemorative Air Force in Dallas Texas. “At West Virginia University, I took multiple classes in African American studies. When you combine my love for aviation and history, it led me to read more about the Tuskegee Airmen and Red Tails. So when the opportunity came about to fly in the P-51, I immediately jumped on it.”

We asked Miller what advice he wished he would have received early in his career: “Having a mentor and an employee cohort would have allowed me to engage with other colleagues and leadership,” Miller said. Evoking the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Miller believes “getting other peoples’ perspectives creates ideas when tackling a problem. The best ideas come when fresh eyes are looking at the task at hand from different angles.”

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