U.S. Navy captain and astronomer on his dismal freshman year, his multiple Officer Candidate School rejections and his stick-to-itiveness
July 1, 2025
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“Today, I command the Reserve Intelligence Component for U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and Africa, and still teach Southwestern College freshmen and sophomores about the wonders of the cosmos,” says Capt. Grant Miller, USN.
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Image by Stacy Keck
From flunking physics to commanding sailors and scanning the stars, Illinois alumnus Grant Miller’s journey is anything but ordinary. What started as a childhood fascination with the cosmos and a rocky freshman year at the U of I eventually led to a thriving dual career as an astronomy professor and a commissioned U.S. Navy intelligence officer.
In this inspiring story from the Illinois Alumni Association, Miller reflects on second chances, stubborn perseverance, and the people who believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself. It’s a powerful reminder that setbacks don’t define your future—what you do next does.
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