With 42 years of experience to his credit, Dr. James Woodell Miller is a respected scientist, writer and consultant. Formerly employed with the Florida Institute of Oceanography for 12 years, he began his tenure with the Institute in 1980 as an associate director and was promoted to program coordinator five years later. Prior to this commitment, he was employed by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration as deputy director of manned undersea science and technology from 1970 to 1982, the Department of the Interior as director of ocean technology and the Office of Naval Research as director of engineering psychology. At the inception of his career in 1952, he was a research associate at the Kresge Eye Institute, a position he held for eight years.
Dr. Miller attributes his success to his ability to initiate, assemble, direct and integrate scientific and technical programs involving private industry, federal and local governments, as well as academic institutions. In light of his varied background, he also felt comfortable working with individuals of every level including local civilians, the king of Sweden, the prime minister of Canada and a number of celebrities. Impressively, he also went diving with Buzz Aldrin on several occasions.
Since 1978, Dr. Miller has affiliated with many organizations including the National Association of Underwater Instructors, the Optical Society of America, the American Psychological Association, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, the American Academy of Underwater Sciences and the Florida Aquaculture Association, among others. He was also an exchange scientist of the National Academy of Sciences to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in 1974, as well as a liaison scientist of the Office of Naval Research in London from 1975 to 1976.
Dr. Miller is proudest of receiving the Arthur Flemming Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1966. His receipt of this award demonstrated clearly that humans are able to safely inhabit the seafloor for extended periods of time for the purpose of understanding, protecting, developing and ultimately colonizing our oceans. Also in 1966, he became a qualified U.S. Navy SCUBA diver. Most recently, Dr. Miller received the Charles W. Schilling Award from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society in 1989, the NOGI Science Award from the Underwater Society of America and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University in 1973. A former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, he also earned a Superior Civilian Service Award and a Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the military in 1966 and 1969, respectively. Earlier in his career, the U.S. Navy honored him with an Outstanding Performance Rating from 1964 to 1965 and a Sustained Superior Performance Award from 1965 to 1966.
Happily married to the late Ardeth Jean for 65 wonderful years, Dr. Miller is the proud father of two sons, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In his spare time, he still enjoys playing music.
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