Nearly a third of the Jacksonville Port Authority's staff served in the military before being hired. The close to 40 veterans and active military personnel on staff were invited to lunch Monday by port CEO Paul Anderson in a show of appreciation.
Some of those veterans are Anderson's senior staff members, including Joe Miller, senior director of facilities and development.
Miller served as district engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District. He served 26 years in the Army and now has two sons, Capt. Mathew Miller and Lt. Patrick Miller, who serve in the military.
As to why he joined, Miller said he was moved by the words of President John F. Kennedy who said, "ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."
The lunch was Monday in the conference room at the port's administration building on Talleyrand Avenue. Miller said he appreciated the recognition.
"I enjoyed having the opportunity to hear Paul (Anderson) and Jim (Citrano, Port board of directors chairman) talk to us about the importance of the heritage of military service," said Miller.
He also said he appreciated the opportunity to continue to serve the community.
"Although we are no longer in uniform we still get to serve our community in a different way, by different means," said Miller.
Port Harbormaster Roderick Ingram retired from the U.S. Navy as a senior chief boatswain's mate in 2005 and was hired to work security at the port soon after his retirement from service. He was hired as a harbormaster in 2007.
He was able to find a job in Jacksonville using the skills he learned in the military for ship maintenance.
"It was a good fit. The port puts you to work using your knowledge and experience," said Ingram.
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