Milner earns recognition

POLSON — Lieutenant Colonel Christopher W. Milner, a 1986 graduate of Polson High School, received the Air Force Commendation medal (second Oak Leaf Cluster) for outstanding achievement. The son of Peggy and Clao Milner, of Polson, distinguished himself by outstanding achievement as Director of Lessons Learned, United States Air Forces Central, Air Force Forces, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. During this period, Lt. Col. Milner provided exceptional leadership and direction to the Lessons Learned program. His vision resulted in the development of the first ever Unites States Air Forces Central Annual Lessons Learned Collection Plan increasing the ability of the Lessons Learned office to meet the commander’s requirements in a more predictable manner.

Through refined interview and report writing processes, he produced harder hitting concise reports with a 50 percent reduction in length, while streamlining the interview process by introducing summary transcripts, saving more than three hours per interview.

Teamed with the Combined Air And Space Operations Center Strategy Division, he worked to develop Lessons Learned for two events resulting in the identification and tasking of 47 actionable lessons directly impacting future planning and air operations in theater. Milner’s management of the senior leader end of tour interview program culminated in the production of a report documenting 33 lessons for a further evaluation and action by Air Force subject matter experts.

He demonstrated a proactive approach to lessons learned by continuously researching and providing previous lessons to operations plans to assist in planning for a variety of air operations. The distinctive accomplishments of Lt. Col. Milner reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

-Courtesy of Peggy Milner