When Lieutenant‑Colonel Kent Alastair Miller deployed on Operation UNIFIER in 2024, he carried with him the same qualities that had defined his career as a Canadian Military Engineer: humility, professionalism, and a deep commitment to the people he served alongside. His sudden passing during that deployment sent shocks through the Canadian Armed Forces.
Last year, the Canadian Forces College in Toronto and Kent’s classmates ensured that his legacy will continue to shape the institution and the broader CAF for generations to come. In a ceremony marked by pride and reflection, the college unveiled the Lieutenant‑Colonel Kent Alastair Miller Leadership Award, a new honour created to recognize exceptional leadership within the Joint Command and Staff Programme Distance Learning stream. The award’s first presentation was made even more meaningful by the presence of LCol Miller’s wife and their two young sons—an attendance made possible through the support and generous donation of the Canadian Military Engineer Association.
The award, the family’s presence, and the community’s response demonstrate the powerful impact LCol Miller had on those around him, both in life and in the legacy he leaves behind.
A Leader Who Embodied the Profession of Arms
LCol Miller was enrolled in JCSP DL Cohort 50 at the time of his deployment. Known for its academic rigor and its role in preparing mid‑career officers for senior leadership responsibilities, the programme demands intellectual agility, strategic thinking, and leadership in complex joint environments. For many officers, it is a defining milestone in their professional development. Despite the demands of deployment, LCol Miller excelled during the course. He served as the lead for his syndicate, guiding his peers through challenging scenarios that required collaboration, communication, and sound judgment. His leadership was not loud or self‑promoting; even though Kent was a physically imposing figure, his character was grounded in empathy, humour, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.
The award citation captures this spirit clearly: “His exceptional leadership abilities, people skills, and sense of humour contributed to group cohesion, consistently facilitating effective communication and teamwork. Through his actions, he embodied the core values of the CAF, and modeled the officer-like qualities of integrity, loyalty, conduct, dedication, and courage.” To those who served with him, these were not abstract traits—they were lived realities. Colleagues describe him as “a giant in both stature and character,” someone whose presence brought calm, whose kindness built trust, and whose humility made him approachable to all ranks. His wife, Stephanie Miller captured this essence with a simple, heartfelt comparison: he was like a “Golden Retriever”—always making friends, always brightening the world around him.
Posthumous Recognition and the Birth of a Legacy
The Canadian Forces College posthumously awarded LCol Miller the course completion, recognizing the work he had already accomplished and the leadership he consistently demonstrated. But the college went further, at the behest of Kent’s peers, choosing to honour him in a way that would continue to influence future cohorts. The Lieutenant‑Colonel Kent Alastair Miller Leadership Award was created to celebrate a JCSP DL student who exemplifies the same qualities that defined LCol Miller’s career: commitment, skill, dedication, and a genuine interest in helping others. The award recognizes excellence in peer‑to‑peer assistance and outreach—qualities that often go unnoticed in formal evaluations but are essential to building strong teams and effective leaders.
Presented annually at each cohort’s graduation, the award highlights the importance of leadership excellence in achieving strategic objectives and fostering a positive organizational culture. Recipients are selected based on their demonstration of officer‑like qualities and leadership competencies such as strategic thinking, communication, collaboration, decision‑making, innovation, and empathy. The first recipient was one of Kent’s closest JCSP colleagues, and a fellow LCol who demonstrates exceptional peer leadership, LCol James Georgiadis from the Australian Defence Force.
In establishing this award, the college has ensured that LCol Miller’s influence will continue to shape the next generation of CAF leaders. Each year, a student will be recognized not only for what they achieved, but for how they uplifted others—an enduring reflection of the way LCol Miller lived his life.
The Role of the Canadian Military Engineer Association
While the creation of the award itself is a powerful tribute, the story of its first presentation carries an additional layer of meaning thanks to the Canadian Military Engineer Association.
LCol Miller was a proud Military Combat Engineer, part of a community known for its technical expertise, resilience, and strong esprit de corps (Chimo!). When the CMEA learned that the college wished to invite his family to the award’s unveiling and inaugural presentation, they did not hesitate. Understanding the significance of the moment—not only for the institution, but for the family—they stepped forward immediately.
The association contributed $2,000 to support travel for LCol Miller’s immediate family, ensuring they could be present in Toronto for the ceremony. Their attendance allowed LCol Miller’s sons to witness firsthand the respect, admiration, and high esteem their father earned from his peers. For young children navigating the loss of a parent, moments like this can shape their understanding of who their father was—not just to them, but to the nation he served.
The CMEA’s support helped create a memory they will carry into adulthood: standing in a hall filled with officers, faculty, and peers who spoke of their father not only as a capable leader, but as a man of integrity, humour, and compassion. It affirmed the importance of his professional legacy and offered his children a tangible connection to the values he lived by.
A Legacy That Will Shape Future Leaders
The creation of the Lieutenant‑Colonel Kent Alastair Miller Leadership Award represents more than a tribute—it is a commitment to cultivating the kind of leadership the CAF needs. By recognizing students who demonstrate empathy, collaboration, and a genuine desire to help others, the award reinforces the idea that leadership is not merely about authority, but about character.
For the Canadian Forces College, the award strengthens its mission to develop leaders who can navigate complex operational environments while fostering positive organizational cultures. For the Military Engineer community, it stands as a reminder of the values that define their branch and the individuals who serve within it.
And for the Miller family, it ensures that Kent’s legacy will not fade. Each year, as a new recipient is named, his sons will know that their father’s example continues to inspire others. They will know that his peers held him in the highest regard. They will know that his leadership—rooted in kindness, humility, and courage—remains a guiding light for those who follow.