Uncover the Journey of Dr. Thomas H. Mills
Welcome to the personal page of Dr. Thomas H. Mills, where passion meets expertise. Explore his innovative approach to sharing knowledge and serving others. Dr. Mills is a firm advocate of servant leadership. “If I assist those I lead to be successful, we all succeed.”
Dr. Mills attends Rock Church, Danville, IL and is an elder there. He is employed as a PRN chaplain with a local not-for-profit hospital. He is a chaplain (Captain) with the Civil Air Patrol – Champaign Composite Squadron IL-327. And he is the “Riders Chaplain” with a local chapter of the American Legion Riders through Martin F. Vutrick Post 51 in Westville, IL.
Discover the World of Dr. Thomas H. Mills
Dr. Mills’ life highlights.
Academic Journey
A.S. in Avionics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL – 1995.
B.A. in Bible and Theology, Cum Laude, from Lee University, Cleveland, TN – 2000.
M.Div. with a counseling concentration, Cum Laude, from Church of God Theological Seminary, Cleveland, TN – 2003.
D.Min. with a counseling focus from Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Cleveland, TN – 2025.
Research Insights
Dr. Mills’ dissertation was “Effectiveness of Spiritual Care Using a Group Cognitive Behavioral Approach for Depression.” Dr. Mills saw a 65%-70% improvement in depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory (DBI) and the Public Health Questionnaire – Nine Question (PHQ-9).
Buy the dissertation on Amazon:
Assisted with research on Chaplaincy and Mental Health with the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs
https://ppc.unl.edu/sites/default/files/resource-files/chmh-in-va-dod-nieuwsma-et-al_2013.pdf
Dr. Mills spent 21 years in the United States Air Force. His assignments included three countries: USA, Iceland, and Germany. He was assigned to six different states including TX, MS, CA, VA, AK, and NY.
His service awards include: Meritorious Service Medal with 1 device, Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 devices, Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 device, National Defense Service Medal, and a host of other personal / unit medals and ribbons.
Deployments while active duty included:
Homestead AFB, FL.
RAF Fairford, England,
Shemya AFB (now Eareckson Station), AK.
Hickam AFB, HI.
Temporary Duty (TDY) assignments included:
Offutt AFB, OK.
Keesler AFB, MS
George AFB, CA
Fort Dix, NJ.
San Diego, CA
Kansas City, MO
East St. Louis, IL
The Pentagon, Washington, DC
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Split, Croatia
Paris, France
Military Assignments.
Basic Training – Lackland AFB, TX, 8/77
Technical School – Keesler AFB, MS, 9/77 – Avionics Communications Specialist
Castle AFB, CA, 3/78 – 93rd Avionics Maintenance Squadron – Avionics Communications Systems repair. Included B-52Gs, B-52Hs and KC-135As. Also had the privilege of working on B-52Ds, B-52Fs, a B-17, a B-25 and a B-29.
Keflavik NAS, Iceland, 8/80 – 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron – Avionics Communications & Navigation Systems repair / Aircraft Electronics Warfare Systems repair. Included F-4Es, T-33As, HH-3s and a host of transient aircraft.
Langley AFB, VA, 8/82 – 1st Equipment Maintenance Squadron – Avionics Communications Systems repair. Included EC-135s, T-39s and UH-1s
HQ Tactical Tactical Air Command, 5/85 – Technical Order Library custodian. Maintained over 18,000 volumes of technical manuals for every aircraft and aircraft system of all Tactical Air Command assigned aircraft.
Eielson AFB, AK, 9/91 – 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron – Avionics Communications Systems repair. RC-135 Cobra Eye and Cobra Ball aircraft.
Griffiss AFB, NY, 9/92 – Avionics Communications / Navigations Systems repair and flightline expediter. B-52Hs.
Ramstein AB, Germany, 11/94 – Aircraft Avionics Communications & Navigations Systems repair on C-130Es. And also served as Aircraft Maintenance Production Superintendent.
HQ U.S. Air Forces Europe 2/96 – Operational Support Aircraft Fleet Program Manager – all the VIP / Commercial Derivative Aircraft owned by the Air Force in Europe: 1 CT-43A (crashed 4/96), 4 Beech Super King Air aircraft (C-12s), 13 Lear 35A (C-21s), 6 DC-9 (C-9s), and 3 Gulfstream IIIs (C-20s).
Retired 9/98 as MSgt / E7
Professional Milestones
Became an “Exhorter” with the Church of God, Cleveland, TN – 4/82
Promoted to Licensed or “Ordained Minister” 7/85
Promoted to Ordained Minister or “Ordained Bishop” 5/92
From 1982 – 1998 served in various capacities as a bi-vocational pastor while in the military including local churches and “Servicemen’s Centers” in Europe. Served as “Assistant / Associate Pastor” in VA, AK, NY, and TN while stateside. Also served as Interim Servicemen’s Center and Pentecostal Fellowship Director in Iceland and Germany.
Hired by Department of Veterans Affairs as a CPE Resident 9/03 at James Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City, TN – Completed 16 units of Clinical Pastoral Education or about 6500 hours of supervised clinical training over a four year period. His primary focus was mental health and PTSD.
Hired as VA Staff Chaplain 8/07 – VA Illiana Health Care System (VAIHCS), Danville, IL. Worked primarily in Mental Health, Gero-Psych and Long Term Care.
While at VAIHCS, he was awarded a “Best Practice” award for work he did at the James Quillen VAMC in Johnson City, TN.
Promoted to Acting Chief of Chaplains at VAIHCS 9/09.
Received the VA “Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Chaplaincy” in the Staff Chaplain category for 2009 – 8/10
Selected as Chairman of Certification for the National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC). 9/09
Hired as permanent Chief of Chaplains at VAIHCS – 9/12
Selected to assist National Chaplain Center as a “Chief Chaplain Mentor” – 9/13
Selected as Chairman of the Board of Directors for NAVAC – 9/14
Awarded the “President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement” by NAVAC – 8/18
Retired from VA 2/19
Hired as Staff Chaplain with OSF Healthcare 4/22, Danville, IL – works primarily in the Emergency Department, Critical Care Unit, and the Behavioral Health Unit at a sister hospital in Urbana, IL.
Dr. Thomas H. Mills’ Story.
Dr. Mills was born to working class parents. His father was an Air Force enlisted man. Early on, his father worked in aircraft maintenance. While with the Air National Guard and Air Reserve components his father was an aircrew member on C-97s and later on C-141s. His father worked most of his adult life as an Airframe and Powerplant repairman for the Air Force and the airline industry. His mother was a stay-at-home mother and wife.
Dr. Mills grew up primarily in the Southwest United States with his four brothers and one sister.
As a teenager, Dr. Mills got involved in archery. He became the Arizona State champion several times. He also placed quite well in national competition. Both of his parents were Olympic Coaches for TEAM USA ARCHERY in 1996. In the early 1970s his father, Bill Mills, set two world records in archery.
Dr. Mills experienced Christian salvation on October 5, 1978. The baptism of the Holy Spirit took place on January 20, 1979. He has been serving the Lord through various venues since that time.
Dr. Mills spent 21 years in the U.S. Air Force working in aircraft maintenance. He jokingly states that he was senior pastor of the “First Church of the Flightline.”
While he enjoyed his military career, there were some challenges. He experienced four specific traumatic events that eventually led to a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder. There have also been a few traumatic events after retiring from USAF.
Because of those challenges, Dr. Mills has focused much of his ministry helping others with debilitating mental health challenges. He’s especially prone to helping U.S. military Veterans and others “on the fringe” of society.
He’s been married to his bride, Sandy, since 1979. He has one adult child, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. There’s also a few other family members and friends that Dr. Mills has “adopted” as if they were his own children.
Dr. Mills is quite fond of his “puppy” Rugare. Rugare is a 95 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback. Rugare means “peace or peaceful” in the Shona language. It is one of the languages spoken in Zimbabwe which used to be Rhodesia. Rugare is a trained service dog. He helps Dr. Mills with standing from very low positions by providing “purchase.” Dr. Mills uses Rugare’s shoulders and hips as a strong point to provide stability when he attempts to stand. Rugare also assists with the anxiety of PTSD by providing a calming presence in his life. The good folks at Mission K9 Warrior are credited with providing Rugare’s training for which Dr. Mills is GRATEFUL!
Dr. Mills’ hobbies are Amateur Radio and riding his motorcycle.
Dr. Mills has visited 47 U.S. States. He still wants to visit Maine, Vermont, and North Dakota. He’s also visited 17 countries.
What is Dr. Mills’ professional background?
Dr. Mills has served the Church as a bi-vocational pastor and servicemen’s center director while serving as an enlisted man in the United States Air Force. He has also worked in healthcare chaplaincy with the Department of Veterans Affairs and not-for-profit community hospitals. Dr. Mills has been a credentialed minister with the Church of God, (Cleveland, TN) since 1982. He spent about 16 years in various pastoral roles. He also has over 20 years’ experience in health care chaplaincy with ecclesiastical endorsement by the Church of God Chaplains Commission.
What are Dr. Mills’ main areas of interest?
Dr. Mills has an appreciation for helping people struggling with mental health challenges.
In his personal life, he is an avid motorcyclist and amateur (ham) radio operator. Dr. Mills also enjoys being in the great outdoors including, camping and fishing.
How can I connect with Dr. Mills?
e-mail: DoctorTom@drthmills.com
Mobile: 217-266-7537
