BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD A. MITCHELL

Chief of Staff, Connecticut Air National Guard

Brigadier General Richard A. Mitchell is the Chief of Staff, Connecticut Air National Guard. He is responsible for the integration, direction, management and coordination of military operations involving Air and Army National Guard units, serving at over 30 military installations. On behalf of the Director, he also oversees the development and validation of all state Military Department emergency response plans. General Mitchell also serves as a senior advisor to the Adjutant General regarding the status of and resourcing for units tasked with federal or state military support to civil authority requirements.

General Mitchell was commissioned in 1979 through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science. He enlisted in the Connecticut Air National Guard in 1978 and served as an operations desk clerk. General Mitchell completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and the A-10A Operational Training Course and served as a combat-ready fighter pilot. He has served in various assignments in flying and operations, as well as command positions in the group and wing. General Mitchell deployed for Operation's IRAQI FREEDOM, SOUTHERN WATCH and DENY FLIGHT. He is a senior command pilot with more than 3000 hours primarily in the A-10 aircraft and has flown in numerous deployments worldwide to include combat missions over Bosnia and Iraq.

EDUCATION:

1977 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science, Daytona Beach, Florida
2002 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. November 1979 - April 1980, Unit Pilot Trainee, 118th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
2. April 1980 - April 1981, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, A-10 Aircraft, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
3. April 1981 - July 1981, Student, Basic Lead-In Training Course, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
4. July 1981 - November 1981, Student, Operational Training Course, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
5. November 1981 -July 1989, Pilot, A-10A, 118th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
6. August 1989 - September 1992, Operations Center Controller, 103rd Tactical Fighter Group, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
7. September 1982 - July 1994, Senior Command Post Controller, 103rd Fighter Group, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
8. July 1994 - December 1997, Commander, B Flight, 118th Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
9. December 1997 - June 1999, Commander, 103rd Operations Support Flight, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
10. June 1999 - June 2000, Operations Officer, 118th Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
11. June 2000 - January 2001, Commander, 103rd Operations Support Flight, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
12. January 2001 - January 2004, Chief, Command Post, 103rd Fighter Wing, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
13. February 2004 - July 2008, Director of Operations, Connecticut Joint Force Headquarters, Connecticut National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
14. July 2008 - Present, Chief of Staff, Connecticut Air National Guard, Connecticut Joint Force Headquarters, East Granby, Connecticut

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Senior Command pilot.
Flight hours: 3,000 including 36 combat missions
Aircraft flown: A-OA-10, T-37, T-38
Pilot wings from: Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, Texas

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Aerial Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with Valor and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 1 Silver and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Frame)
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, 'M' Device, numeral 3)
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 15 November 1979
First Lieutenant 9 January 1982
Captain 14 April 1985
Major 15 November 1993
Lieutenant Colonel 8 May 1998
Colonel 2 May 2004
Brigadier General 7 November 2008

(Current as of April 2010)