David Mitchell of Peachtree City has assumed command of the Peachtree City Squadron of Civil Air Patrol. Lt. Col. Mitchell was raised in Columbus, Ohio and it was there he fell in love with flying. Entering CAP as a cadet in 1968, he soloed at age 16. A member of the Peachtree City unit since 2007, Mitchell is a check pilot/instructor pilot in several CAP aircraft including the new Cessna 182 NAV III G1000 “glass cockpit” (no dials, just screens). Mitchell served as Deputy Commander prior to assuming Command.
Although he began an education and career in business and accounting, Mitchell entered service as a Naval Flight Officer, eventually logging more than 3,000 hours in NAVY P-3 Orions, an aerial submarine hunter and surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. After the Cold War ended, Mitchell continued flying in the Navy Reserve while resuming a career in accounting. He has been recalled to active duty on several occasions and is a veteran of service in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and in 2009 Afghanistan.
Professionally, Mitchell holds a masters degree in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, is a graduate of the Naval War College and the Joint Forces Staff College. He is a Senior Executive Fellow of the JFK School of Government at Harvard, a graduate of the Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program and is a Certified Public Accountant.
The Civil Air Patrol is the official civilian Auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force. CAP has over 60,000 members serving nationwide, all volunteers. CAP conducts Emergency Services, such as Air Search and Rescue, the Cadet Program for young people 12 to 18 years old, and an Aerospace Education Program both internally and externally. For more information about the CAP please go online to: gocivilairpatrol.com. The local Peachtree City Squadron webpage can be found at: gawg.cap.gov/GA116.
