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employee stories

Celebrating Black History Month: African Americans and the Arts

In observance of Black History Month, The MIL Corporation (MIL) paid tribute to the humanity and resilience of African
Americans whose journeys paved the way to the freedom, opportunity, and cultural diversity we all enjoy today. Throughout
the month of February, MIL joined the rest of the Nation to remember and honor the struggles of these African American
trailblazers and to celebrate their many triumphs and countless achievements.
In keeping with this year’s focus on “African Americans and the Arts,” MIL commemorated
Black History Month by reflecting on the contributions of African American artists whose
visionary works in visual, performing, and literary arts helped to shape our uniquely American
cultural landscape. African American artists have entertained, thrilled, and enthralled us for
generations and continue to serve as an inspiration to countless other creative minds. To turn a
spotlight on several of those resident creative minds at MIL, we introduced a few of the African
American artists among your MIL colleagues who are using their innate talent, finely tuned
skills, and artistic aesthetics to create, perform, and express their own imaginative art.

Mike Ogletree’s soul Infusion

Michael Ogletree’s style of music is soul-infused, heavy modern and instrumental rock, with
R&B styled vocals. To Mike, making music is about cooking up a melting pot of influences and
genres to create his own original strange brew of sounds. His goal, to bring together a fusion of
sound that everyone can enjoy. From his perspective, music should be fun and not too rigidly
defined. “It was meant to express feelings and tell a story. Mixing sounds helps people tell
stories that are as unique as they are.”
Mike began his life of music over 20 years ago when he first picked up a trumpet hoping to
emulate his big brother, a saxophone player. Since then, music has been a constant in his life, a
way to express himself and entertain others in the process.
When not mixing it up with his music, Mike works in MIL’s Procurement Department as a vendor liaison while also attending
the College of Southern Maryland.

Tristan Cills, sharing the Word through music

Tristan Cills grew up in a musical family with a mother who encouraged her children to learn
the piano. But as Tristan remembers it, it was always the song’s bass line he was humming in
the back of the family minivan. Bass guitar, not piano, was a natural fit.
Fast forward quite a bit, and Tristan has 20 years of musical performance under his belt, with
14 years at a high professional level. According to Tristan, “It’s simple. I’m a musician. I play
bass guitar, guitar, and a little piano.” Adding, “Bass guitar is my primary instrument. I can
play every genre, from jazz, folk, blues, pop, and rock, to my favorites–gospel and R&B.” He
also enjoys assisting worship at his church and being on the road with his friend and world-
renowned, award-winning gospel artist Travis Greene, and everywhere else playing good music.
Travis notes musical influences like the traditional Pentecostal-style African American church he grew up in that used music
as an integral part of their worship—along with his Caribbean parents that accompanied his early years with bass heavy music.
All his early influences eventually came together to create the soundtrack for his own musical style and sound. Music he hopes
connects with people across societal boundaries.
“Through my church Forward City in Columbia and playing with Travis Greene, I have been extremely blessed to have crazy
opportunities to travel the world, sharing my gifts to a wide range of people.” But these days his primary focus is on ministry.
“The impact of the Church locally and globally cannot be understated. Ministry has allowed me to travel to all over the U.S.,
Canada, Europe, South America, and Africa sharing the Gospel. I do not discount other styles of music or events. I am still
fortunate to play the occasional wedding and corporate events all around the state.”
Along with sharing his musical gift to uplift and inspire, Tristan works as an MIL Compensation Systems Analyst at the U.S.
Department of State in Charleston and shares his life and love with wife Kashayla. “I love my wife Kashayla who also works for
MIL. We welcomed our son Nikko on 12/30/23. I also love MIL. It’s been an honor working here.”
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