Chief Master Sergeant BRIAN C. "MITCH" MITCHELL
Chief Master Sergeant Brian C. “Mitch” Mitchell is the Command Chief, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla. He advises the AFTAC wing commander on matters concerning the readiness, utilization, training, morale, and welfare of the 1,100-member center and its 14 detachments around the globe in support of AFTAC’s international nuclear treaty monitoring activities. AFTAC operates and maintains the United States Atomic Energy Detection System to monitor foreign compliance with various treaties limiting nuclear testing. AFTAC is also the designated U.S. laboratory system that provides technical support to the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency.
Chief Mitchell entered the Air Force in January 2001, and upon completion of Air Force Basic Training, he attended the Ground Radio Maintenance Apprentice Course at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., where he served and deployed in various roles in the Ground Radio Maintenance career field. In 2006, he retrained into the Network Intelligence Analysis career field, and has held positions at the squadron, group, joint and national-agency level. Chief Mitchell served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 319th Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and prior to joining AFTAC, he was the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 543rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at JBSA, leading more than 800 Airmen who execute worldwide cryptologic operations. In that position, he also supported the National Security Agency-Texas commander to coordinate, plan, and execute worldwide intelligence operations to achieve the objectives of the intelligence community, the Secretary of Defense, and the President of the United States.
EDUCATION
2001 Ground Radio Communications Maintenance Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2004 Airman Leadership School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2004 Associate Degree in Applied Science, Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2006 Network Intelligence Analysis Apprentice Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2008 Associate Degree in Applied Science, Information Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2011 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (correspondence)
2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2014 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (correspondence)
2015 Bachelor of Science, Management (cum laude), Park University
2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2020 Senior Enlisted Intelligence Master Skills Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2021 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (correspondence)
2021 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2022 Master of Business Administration (with distinction), Park University
2024 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Wing Command Team Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. January 2001 – February 2001, Basic Trainee, 324th Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. February 2001 – November 2001, Student, 338th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. December 2001 – March 2004, High-Frequency Systems Technician, 422nd ABS, RAF Croughton, United Kingdom
4. April 2004 – July 2005, IW Systems Technician, Air Force Information Warfare Center, Lackland AFB, Texas
5. August 2005 – August 2006, Operations Center Controller, 8th Communications Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. September 2006 – December 2006, Student, 316th Training Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
7. January 2007 – December 2008, Target Development Analyst, 32nd Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
8. January 2009 – May 2012, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Target Development, DATA MASKED
9. June 2012 – December 2012, Flight Chief, DATA MASKED
10. January 2013 – June 2013, Interim First Sergeant, 32nd Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
11. July 2013 – July 2014, Joint Operations Superintendent, 34th Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
12. August 2014 – January 2016, Superintendent, Oversight & Compliance, Cyber National Mission Force, Fort Meade, Md.
13. February 2016 – June 2016, Operations Superintendent, 41st Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
14. July 2016 – June 2017, Operations Superintendent, 29th Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
15. July 2017 – July 2018, 1N4XX Air Force Specialty Manager, 25th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
16. August 2018 – June 2021, Superintendent, 68th Network Warfare Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
17. July 2021 – June 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 319th Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
18. July 2022 – July 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 543rd ISR Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
19. July 2024 – Present, Command Chief, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Promoted to Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School
2004 Airman of the Year, Air Force Information Warfare Center
2004 Communications and Information Airman of the Year (2EXXX), Air Intelligence Agency
2004 Air Force Association (Alamo Chapter), Joe Kellogg Blue Suit Award
2008 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 32nd Intelligence Squadron
2012 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, DATA MASKED
2012 McCone Science and Technology Award, Central Intelligence Agency
2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 659th Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Group
2015 Senior Enlisted Member of the Year, United States Cyber Command
2015 Senior Enlisted Member of the Year, United States Strategic Command
Chief Mitchell entered the Air Force in January 2001, and upon completion of Air Force Basic Training, he attended the Ground Radio Maintenance Apprentice Course at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., where he served and deployed in various roles in the Ground Radio Maintenance career field. In 2006, he retrained into the Network Intelligence Analysis career field, and has held positions at the squadron, group, joint and national-agency level. Chief Mitchell served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 319th Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and prior to joining AFTAC, he was the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 543rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at JBSA, leading more than 800 Airmen who execute worldwide cryptologic operations. In that position, he also supported the National Security Agency-Texas commander to coordinate, plan, and execute worldwide intelligence operations to achieve the objectives of the intelligence community, the Secretary of Defense, and the President of the United States.
EDUCATION
2001 Ground Radio Communications Maintenance Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2004 Airman Leadership School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2004 Associate Degree in Applied Science, Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2006 Network Intelligence Analysis Apprentice Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2008 Associate Degree in Applied Science, Information Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2011 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2012 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (correspondence)
2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force
2014 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (correspondence)
2015 Bachelor of Science, Management (cum laude), Park University
2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2020 Senior Enlisted Intelligence Master Skills Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2021 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (correspondence)
2021 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2022 Master of Business Administration (with distinction), Park University
2024 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Wing Command Team Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. January 2001 – February 2001, Basic Trainee, 324th Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. February 2001 – November 2001, Student, 338th Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. December 2001 – March 2004, High-Frequency Systems Technician, 422nd ABS, RAF Croughton, United Kingdom
4. April 2004 – July 2005, IW Systems Technician, Air Force Information Warfare Center, Lackland AFB, Texas
5. August 2005 – August 2006, Operations Center Controller, 8th Communications Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. September 2006 – December 2006, Student, 316th Training Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
7. January 2007 – December 2008, Target Development Analyst, 32nd Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
8. January 2009 – May 2012, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Target Development, DATA MASKED
9. June 2012 – December 2012, Flight Chief, DATA MASKED
10. January 2013 – June 2013, Interim First Sergeant, 32nd Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
11. July 2013 – July 2014, Joint Operations Superintendent, 34th Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
12. August 2014 – January 2016, Superintendent, Oversight & Compliance, Cyber National Mission Force, Fort Meade, Md.
13. February 2016 – June 2016, Operations Superintendent, 41st Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
14. July 2016 – June 2017, Operations Superintendent, 29th Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, Md.
15. July 2017 – July 2018, 1N4XX Air Force Specialty Manager, 25th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
16. August 2018 – June 2021, Superintendent, 68th Network Warfare Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
17. July 2021 – June 2022, Senior Enlisted Leader, 319th Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
18. July 2022 – July 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 543rd ISR Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
19. July 2024 – Present, Command Chief, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Promoted to Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School
2004 Airman of the Year, Air Force Information Warfare Center
2004 Communications and Information Airman of the Year (2EXXX), Air Intelligence Agency
2004 Air Force Association (Alamo Chapter), Joe Kellogg Blue Suit Award
2008 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 32nd Intelligence Squadron
2012 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, DATA MASKED
2012 McCone Science and Technology Award, Central Intelligence Agency
2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 659th Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Group
2015 Senior Enlisted Member of the Year, United States Cyber Command
2015 Senior Enlisted Member of the Year, United States Strategic Command
