30 Years of Impact Generational Change Support Inspiration
MICHAEL MILES
TAF Academy | Class of 2012
Technology & Data Leader
Project Management Professional
A Foundation Built on Community
The administrators, teachers, and friends all helped raise me.
As a member of the very first graduating class of TAF Academy, Mike Miles experienced TAF in its earlier years, helping shape a culture that continues to impact students today. Through high school, Mike participated in a summer coding program, a TAF internship, and an internship at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center.
Reflecting on his time at TAF, the first thing that comes to mind is the people.
The community was very close-knit, and looking back, Mike describes it as a genuine, supportive environment filled with people who wanted the best for one another. For him, those relationships were just as valuable as the technical skills he gained.
Discovering Confidence and Capability
TAF introduced Mike to coding, statistics, and data literacy long before those skills became central to today's technology landscape. Through his internship at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, he gained the confidence that he could work alongside highly accomplished professionals and succeed in challenging environments.
The statistics courses he took at TAF Academy would later prove especially valuable.
That set me up for having strong data literacy, which is super relevant to all the data work I do, and now the AI focus that’s been going on the last few years.
Through TAF’s college and career readiness programming, Mike was introduced to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), the university he ultimately attended and credits to sharing significant professional opportunities that helped his career. It was also where he met his future wife!
Following an Unexpected Path
Mike headed to RPI with a goal of studying aeronautical engineering. After a difficult semester, he switched to business, thinking it would be easier. Years later, he would find that decision was a better fit in the long term. That experience taught him an important lesson about trusting himself and remaining open to unexpected opportunities.
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Mike began his career supporting Navy engineering programs in San Diego, taking a project management role that ensured large projects stayed on track and on time. Eventually, he followed his wife to Virginia and transitioned into information technology and software development support. While building expertise in project management, IT, and technology leadership, Mike earned an MBA and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. This experience landed him in a position at Deloitte, where he managed federal technology programs and continued advancing as a leader. Recently, Mike has transitioned into leading teams of data engineers and data scientists in cybersecurity at a startup in the D.C. area.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Talent will get you to the mountaintop, but character is what will keep you there.
Throughout his career, Mike has experienced both successes and setbacks. He learned that professional achievement depends on far more than talent alone.
One of the most challenging periods came when widespread uncertainty in the federal contracting industry led to his position being eliminated. Yet within weeks, he secured a new leadership role that ultimately became a step forward in his career.
That experience reinforced two core beliefs: never back down from challenges and always maintain a small circle of people with whom you can be completely honest.
Staying Connected to What Matters
It reminds me that there’s much more to life than work and money.
For Mike, staying connected to TAF and educational communities has helped him maintain perspective throughout his journey. That perspective continues to guide him as he balances career success with family, mentorship, and service.
Today, his greatest sources of motivation are his wife and two children. They drive his desire to grow, lead, and create opportunities for his family and greater community.
Looking Ahead
It’s all a journey. You have to appreciate the process while you’re in the process.
Mike continues to pursue ambitious professional and personal goals. However, his definition of success has changed a bit over the years.
After achieving milestones he once believed would prove he “made it,” he has realized fulfillment does not come from reaching a destination.
As he looks toward the future, he remains focused on leadership, growth, family, and building the life he had once never dreamed was possible.
Generational Change in Action
Mike’s story reflects the long-term impact of TAF’s mission. The hard skills of coding, statistics, and collaborative problem-solving skills he developed as a teenager continue to shape his work leading technical teams today. Additionally, the soft skills, the confidence, relationship building, and sense of possibility he gained from being part of the first TAF Academy class continue to lead the way.
Through every career transition, challenge, and achievement, those early lessons built the solid foundation that helps Mike succeed in life, in whatever direction he chooses.
