Paul David Miller was born in Roanoke, Virginia on 1 December 1941 and spent his childhood years in Newport, Rhode Island and Norfolk, Virginia. He served in the United States Navy from 1964 to 1994, retiring on 31 October 1994 with the rank of admiral. Promoted to admiral (4-star) on 1 February 1991, his final active-duty billets included Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (USCINCACOM).