Timothy O. Milbrath

Colonel Milbrath was born September 12, 1955, in Yakima, Washington, and graduated from Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, Florida, in 1973. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland in 1976 and received a Master of Science degree from George Peabody College, European Division, Oxford, England, in 1978. He also received a certificate in Developmental Psychology from Oxford College of Further Education, Oxford, England, in 1978. Tim completed Squadron Officer School in August 1986 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, as well as Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, in June 1990.

Colonel Milbrath entered the U.S. Air Force through Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on July 12, 1979. Following Tim’s commissioning, he served as Chief, Command Section, Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, until May 1981. Tim was then assigned in the Pentagon to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, as the Director for Research and was promoted to First Lieutenant in July 1981.

From April 1983 to October 1984 Colonel Milbrath was assigned to the Headquarters, Alaskan Air Command, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, as the Command Chief of Protocol. He was promoted to Captain in July 1983. In November 1984, Tim returned to the Pentagon, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, where he was detailed to the Department of State and to the U. S. Mission to the United Nations, New York as a Diplomatic and Consular Affairs Officer. In November 1985, he was assigned as the aide-de-camp to the Secretary of the Air Force until August 1986. He then served on the Air Staff within the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Programs and Resources, Policy Management Division. As a collateral duty, Colonel Milbrath was assigned to the White House Military Office, as a White House Social Aide. In February 1987, Colonel Milbrath was assigned as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs and was promoted to Major in 1988. In July 1990 Tim was assigned as Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Policy, where he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in July 1991. In July 1992 Tim was assigned as Deputy Director of Protocol for the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary at the Pentagon. In May 1994 he became the Executive Military Assistant for the Under Secretary of the Air Force where he was promoted to Colonel. In May 1996, Tim became the Chief of Staff of the White House Military Office until his retirement from the Air Force in July of 1999. Thereafter, he worked for several companies including one based in Charlotte, NC and the United Arab Emirates where he was the Chief Operating Officer. Tim’s final position was with NobleOutReach.

Colonel Milbrath’s military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster.

Tim was an avid gardener and loved raising flowers. He especially enjoyed sharing seeds with friends. Tim’s true passion was collecting antique postcards though. He started collecting as a child and continued to grow his collection throughout his life. However, the most important thing in Tim’s life was his children. He absolutely adored them.

Tim is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Elizabeth “Beth” Milbrath, Esq. of Carlisle; one daughter, Taylor Milbrath (husband Dennis O’Connell) of Plano, TX; two sons, Reed (wife Faith) Milbrath of Charleston, SC and Daniel Milbrath of Denver, CO; and one sister, Cindy (husband Charles) Stigall of Acworth, GA. Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Earl W. and Anne (Mann) Milbrath and one brother, Earl W. Milbrath Jr.

A graveside service with military honors rendered by the Cumberland County Honor Guard will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Westminster Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Tim to the USO, P.O. Box 96860 Washington, DC 20077-7677.

To sign the guestbook, please visit www.HoffmanFH.com.