Maj. Gen. Harold L. "Mitch" Mitchell is Deputy Inspector General of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. He assists the Inspector General in the performance of all responsibilities of the Office of the Inspector General. The Inspector General reports to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force on the readiness, efficiency, economy and state of discipline of all components of our Air Force--Active Duty, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard.
The Inspector General provides inspection policy, and oversees the inspection and evaluation system for all Air Force nuclear and conventional forces; oversees counterintelligence operations and chairs the Air Force Intelligence Oversight Panel; investigates fraud, waste and abuse; oversees criminal investigations; and provides oversight of complaints resolution programs. The Deputy IG also assists in oversight of two field operating agencies; the Air Force Inspection Agency (AFIA) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). He performs other duties as directed by the Inspector General.
General Mitchell is a graduate of Robert Smalls High School of Beaufort, South Carolina. The General graduated from South Carolina State University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He served on active duty from 1972 to 1978 with the U.S. Marine Corps where he flew the KC-130 Hercules transport aircraft. General Mitchell joined the Air Force Reserve in 1983 as a traditional Reservist assigned to the 728th Airlift Squadron at Norton AFB, Calif. He later commanded the 728th Airlift Squadron and served as vice commander of the 446 Airlift Wing. Leadership positions since his promotion to general officer rank include vice commander of Fourth Air Force, mobilization assistant to the commander of Fifteenth Air Force, Eighteenth Air Force and the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM). While at USTRANSCOM, he held the dual responsibilities of Director, Reserve Component Directorate, and Commander, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit (JTRU).
The general is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours. He has over 33 years experience as a commercial pilot and Federal Aviation Administration pilot check airman for a major airline.
EDUCATION
1972 Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, South Carolina
1995 Air War College, via correspondence
2002 National Security Decision Making Seminar
2004 Capstone, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1972 - July 1983, U.S. Marine Corps
2. July 1983 - September 1995, C-141 co-pilot and aircraft commander, 728th Airlift Squadron, Norton AFB, Calif. and McChord AFB, WA
3. September 1995 - September 1997, Commander, 728th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
4. September 1997 - April 1999, Chief of Transportation, Headquarters 4th Air Force, McClellan AFB and March ARB, Calif.
5. April 1999 - November 2000, Vice Commander, 446 Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, Wash.
6. November 2000 - August 2002, Vice Commander, 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
7. September 2002 - November 2003, mobilization assistant to the Commander, 15th Air Force, Travis AFB, Calif.
8. November 2003 - January 2006, mobilization assistant to the Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Illinois.
9. January 2006 - November 2009, mobilization assistant to the Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, and Commander, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, Scott AFB, Ill.
10. December 2009 - present, Deputy Inspector General of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
January 2006 - November 2009, mobilization assistant to the Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, and Commander, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, Scott AFB, Ill., as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,500
Aircraft flown: T-34, T-2C, TA-4J, KC-130, C-141B and C-17
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass and "M" device
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 7, 1972
First Lieutenant June 7, 1974
Captain Jan. 1, 1977
Major Oct. 3, 1983
Lieutenant Colonel July 7, 1990
Colonel April 1, 1997
Brigadier General May 20, 2002
Major General May 31, 2006
(Current as of January 2012)