Generations of McMillan family serve – Members of Milan VFW advance in rank

Pictured are James Jr., James III, and Robert McMillan - a family with generations of service to America.

The Milan VFW Post 6234 takes pleasure in reporting that two of their active duty members have recently received orders to higher positions in the U.S. Navy. Navy Captain Robert J. McMillan and brother Commander James R. McMillan, III, are both third generation Life Members of Post 6234, following in the footsteps of their father, Commander James R. McMillan, Jr. of Milan, and their grandfather, the late James R. McMillan, also of Milan.

Upon completion of his assignment as Executive Assistant in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition at the Pentagon, Robert assumed his current position as Program Manager for the Navy’s Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office. Robert graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2003. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and holds a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. He has served operationally as an F/A-18E/F pilot in Strike Fighter Squadron 213 deployed with Carrier Air Wing 8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and VFA-154 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Captain McMillan has accumulated over 2,200 flight hours in more than 40 different models of aircraft, including the U-2, P-51, Mig-15 and Mirage 2000.

The younger McMillan is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (2005). After earning his Wings of Gold in 2007, James served in numerous Strike Fighter Squadrons, a Carrier Air Wing, and on the Joint Staff. To date, he has accumulated over 4,100 flight hours, more than 100 combat sorties, and over 1,000 carrier landings. His awards include the two Defense Meritorious Service Medal; six Strike/Flight Air Medals; and numerous Meritorious Service medals, unit, and campaign awards. Most recently, CDR McMillan served as Commanding Officer Strike Fighter Squadron 27 from July 2024 through October 2025, operating from the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Japan on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and the USS George Washington (CVN-73). In early January 2026 James reported for duty as Chief of Staff for Carrier Strike Group 2 in Norfolk, Virginia.