James Grier Miller (1916 – 7 November 2002, in California) was an American biologist, a pioneer of systems science and academic administrator, who originated the modern use of the term "behavioral science", founded and directed the multi-disciplinary Mental Health Research Institute at the University of Michigan,[1] and originated the living systems theory.
Following military service in World War II, he served as Chief of the newly formed Clinical Psychology section of the Veteran's Administration central office in Washington.
[2] Having served on the faculty at Harvard, in 1948 he accepted the position of Chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago, which he held until 1955.
He served as president of the Society for General Systems Research (SGSR) succeeding Margaret Mead in 1973.
[3] Miller has written or co-authored nine books and published more than 100 scientific and scholarly articles.