Lieutenant Colonel Mills graduated from the University of Georgia in 2001 and enlisted in the Selected Marine Corps Reserves as an artillery cannoneer in January 2002. He was assigned to Battery M, 4th Battalion, 14th Marines in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he served in multiple different billets on the gunline, from Recorder to Howitzer Section Chief. While at Battery M, he mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, as well as for Hurricane Katrina Relief on 2005.
In January 2007 he commissioned from Officer Candidate School and attended The Basic School and Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. Subsequently, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, where he deployed to Iraq in support of Task Force Military Police with 1st Battalion, 12th Marines in 2008 and to Helmand, Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines as their Fires Support Coordinator in 2010.
In June 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Mills was assigned to Inspector-Instructor duty with Battery M, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines. In July 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Mills attended Field Artillery Captains Career Course at Fort Sill, and was subsequently assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Marines in April 2015. Once there, he assumed the duties of Fire Support Officer for 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, and deployed with them to Okinawa for their Unit Deployment Program. In March 2016, he assumed command of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, and in March 2017 assumed the duties of the battalion’s S-4.
In July 2017, he executed orders to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One in Yuma, Arizona, and served as a Fire Support Instructor as well as the Ground Combat Department Operations Head. Following that, in July 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Mills attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College, earning a master’s in military studies.
In July of 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Mills was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines and served as the 5th Marines Assistant Fire Support Coordinator. Subsequently, in February 2022, he deployed in support of the Over The Horizon-Counter Terrorism Task Force, serving as the Plans Officer in the J-5. Upon his return, in September 2022, he was assigned as the Targeting Officer for I Marine Expeditionary Force. In July 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Mills was assigned as the Regimental Inspector-Instructor for 14th Marines Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Mills’ personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars in lieu of fourth award, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.