Chris Miller, the former Defense Secretary of the United States, testified before the January 6 committee. He disputed former President Donald Trump’s claims of requesting National Guard mobilisation ahead of a rally organised in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. This rally later turned into a violent insurrection of the US Capitol.

Miller said that there was no “direct order” from the President to deploy the National Guard. Trump, however, previously said he wanted thousands of troops stationed at the Capitol on January 6 last year.

Also Read: Donald Trump under DoJ scanner over Capitol riots as Jan 6 hearings pause

Who is Chris Miller?

Chris Miller, 56, served as the acting Defense Secretary for nearly three months in the Trump administration. He was confirmed for the position on November 9, 2020, days after the US Presidential elections. 

Miller’s career in the US armed forces started in 1983, when he was enlisted as an Infantryman in the Army Reserve. He also served in the Washington DC National Guard as a Military Policeman, according to his official website. A decade later, he was transferred to the 5th Special Forces Group.

Overseas operations

In his service years, Miller was deployed overseas by the Pentagon multiple times. He was part of one of the first combat missions in Afghanistan in 2001. Two years later, he was also deployed to Iraq. Miller also has extensive inter-agency and joint special operations experience.

Miller retired from service in 2014, However, he continued to act as an advisor to Under Secretaries of Defense for Intelligence and Policy for roughly two years.

Also Read: Why top Trump campaign officials were unhappy with his response to Jan 6

Personal life and education

Before joining the forces, Miller got his Bachelor of Arts in History from George Washington University. He later went on to pursue a Master’s in National Security Studies at the Naval War College.

He currently lives in Virginia with his wife. The couple has three children: two daughters and one son.