Harris Miller, a know-how chief who helped usher within the broader use of business tech by authorities businesses, died Thursday after a battle with most cancers. He was 71.
Miller was the long-time president of the Info Expertise Affiliation of America, one of many first commerce associations that thought of the federal government as a significant market and know-how client.
He was identified with pancreatic most cancers in July and died at residence on Sept. 15. A funeral service befell Monday and his burial was non-public.
He’s survived by his spouse Deborah Kahn and two kids, Derek and Alexis. Different survivors are his 5 grandchildren and a sister, Lee.
In his position as president of ITAA for 11 years, Miller led the affiliation and the tech business via a number of milestones out there and significantly the lead-up to the Y2K date bug.
A possible computing catastrophe was averted because of the work of lots of people and organizations together with Miller and ITAA. In 1998, he testified earlier than Congress about efforts to handle the software program drawback and warned a catastrophe was coming if motion wasn’t taken. Miller and ITAA took on a management position together with coordinating efforts globally with different know-how teams and the United Nations.
He was acknowledged twice with Federal 100 awards given by our sibling publication FCW. It acknowledges people for actions that go above and past their job descriptions. One award got here in 1999 and the opposite in 2005.
Miller was usually a go-to-source for journalists overlaying know-how and authorities, providing insights on tech developments and their associated coverage and regulatory points.
He stepped down from ITAA in January 2006 to pursue the Democratic Celebration nomination for a Senate seat representing Virginia. Miller misplaced the nomination to James Webb, who went on to defeat then-incumbent Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia) in a decent race.
After Miller left ITAA, it merged with the American Electronics Affiliation with Tech America, which later was absorbed by the Skilled Providers Council.
For the final decade or so, Miller centered on a wide range of private passions and significantly these involving training and the humanities. He was president and CEO of the Profession School Affiliation. He additionally frolicked on the Affiliation of Public Schools and Universities. He co-founded the Marketing campaign for Free School Tuition.
He served on the boards of the Virginia Opera, the Nationwide Philharmonic, the American Coronary heart Affiliation, the George Washington College Coronary heart and Vascular Institute, the Virginia Lottery Board, and as chair of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee.
Miller was born in Pittsburgh and a life-long fan of the Steelers.
His daughter-in-law, Hannah Farber, wrote on Fb about Miller’s love of household: “You have been the herd canine, the supervisor, the paterfamilias. You wished the social gathering to be full. Moms, fathers, sisters, brothers, pals. All needed to be there.”
Stan Soloway, a former president of the Skilled Providers Council, mentioned in an e-mail that he began working with Miller when Soloway grew to become PSC’s chief 25 years in the past.
“He actually elevated the affiliation to a premier place within the authorities tech house,” Soloway mentioned. “After I took over PSC, we started to work extra intently collectively.”
Along with an expert connection, the 2 shared some household connections between Miller’s in-laws and Soloway’s dad and mom, in addition to what Soloway described as “”Dangerous golf, and generally irreverent senses of humor. He was heat, good as hell, and simply typically a real mensch.”
Miller’s household is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a Research Overseas in Europe Award that he established at his alma mater within the College of Pittsburgh. The award helps worldwide journey by deserving college students. Click on here to make a donation.
The household additionally instructed that as Miller usually did throughout his life, assist Democratic political campaigns.
Along with making any memorial donations, Miller’s daughter Alexis Miller urged individuals to go on pleasure.
“Message me or anybody else in your life and go on one thing good that’s occurring,” he wrote on Fb. “There may be loads of house (for) disappointment, assist us all make room for pleasure.”
https://www.washingtontechnology.com/corporations/2022/09/long-time-tech-leader-harris-miller-dies-71/377340/