David Stafford Miller

David Stafford Miller
Major, U.S. Marine Corps

Major David Stafford Miller was born in Mobile, Alabama, to Dr. WR Miller and MaryAnn Miller. He grew up in Auburn where his father taught in the Veterinary School at Auburn University.

Miller’s first true love was flying. He caught “the bug” at the age of three while flying on the lap of his crop-dusting neighbor. This love followed him to college, and he graduated from Auburn University in 1977 with a degree in Aviation Management.

After graduation, Miller was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps and slated to fly helicopters. He served as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, before going to Camp Lejeune. There, he flew helicopters on military aircraft carriers all over the world. His passport was completely full from traveling thousands of miles to the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

His final position with the Marine Corps was as a member of Marine Helicopter Squadron One, or

HMX 1, where he was responsible for the helicopter transport of the President of the United States.

He left the Marines in 1990 having earned the rank of Major. His love of flying led to a career with American Airlines where he flew for 29 years. He flew the Boeing 727, Super 80, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Airbus 319, 320 and 321. He safely shuttled millions of passengers all over the U.S., Canada, Central and South America and Europe.

After his retirement in September 2019, Miller was recruited by his alma mater to teach in Auburn University’s School of Aviation. There, he shared his skills with students by managing the Airbus A320 flight simulator. This move took him full circle, returning to his humble beginnings in Auburn where he took his first solo flight as a teenager. David was a natural teacher — he loved sharing his knowledge and his real-life experience as an airline pilot. While his career had led him all over the world, his favorite job was training the next generation of pilots and helping make their dreams come true.

In 2022, Miller was diagnosed with a malignant glioblastoma brain tumor. He faced the terminal diagnosis with grace and courage, continuing to inspire others with his positive spirit and dedication.

Surrounded by loved ones, including his wife Maureen Fitzgerald and his three children, Miller peacefully departed this world in December 2022, leaving behind a legacy of selflessness and resilience. Three weeks before his passing, Auburn University renamed and dedicated the flight simulator bay in the Delta Building in honor of Miller. His name is now permanently displayed there.