Troop 25 is invited by alumnus Brigadier General Rick "Zitch" Mitchell to attend his retirement ceremony. He will be retiring from 30+ years of service in the Connecticut Air National Guard. Many scouts know him personally but many more have seen him as an A-10 pilot.
All Troop 25 members past and present are invited to attend the retirement ceremony for him to be held at Bradley Field air base.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS - CONNECTICUT 100 NICHOLSON ROAD EAST GRANBY, CONNECTICUT 06026 |
Requests the pleasure of your company
For a ceremony honoring
On the occasion of his retirement
From the Air National Guard
Saturday, the fourth of February
Two thousand and twelve
Three o’clock in the afternoon
Dining Facility
Bradley Air National Guard Base, CT
Reception to follow at the Zebra Club
Military: Uniform of the day
Civilian: Casual
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 Adjutant General he 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. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and the A-10A Operational Training Course. Besides serving 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 IRAQI FREEDOM, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and Operation 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.
1977 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science, Daytona Beach, Florida.
2002 Air War College, by correspondence
1. November 1979 – April 1980, Executive Support Officer, 118th Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
2. April 1980-August 1981, Pilot Trainee, A-10 Aircraft, 118th Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
3. August 1989 – September 1994, Operations Center Controller, 118th Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
4. September 1994 – June 1999, B Flight Commander, 118th Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
5. January 1998 – June 1999, Commander, Operations Support Flight, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
6. June 1999-March 2001, Operations Officer, 118th Fighter Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
7. March 2001 – May 2004, Chief, Command Post, 103rd Operations Group, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
8. May 2004 - November 2008, Director of Operations, Joint Force Headquarters, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
9. November 2008 – Present, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut
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
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 Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with Valor and 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (with “M” Device, “3” device, and Silver Hourglass)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon-Short Tour
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass, 3 “M” Device)
Air Force Training Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
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
