Michael Mitchell

Recently deployed to the Middle East, for 9 months Major Mitchell filled the role of Electrical Engineering subject matter expert (SME) for the 673^rd EFD (Engineer Facility Detachment).  Their original mission was to act as a DPW (Department of Public Works) or mayor cell for a large installation.  Once in theater (the Middle East), it was realized that the EFD possessed a licensed electrical engineer.  At this point, they became an engineering cell tasked with traveling to various installations to troubleshoot any electrical issues that could be thrown our way. 

Up to the time of his deployment, Major Mitchell's background was in the North American power grid with a focus on substation design.  The planning for power for facilities overseas is often limited or facilitated by whether the installation is considered contingency or enduring.  What does one do with the power system for a facility that has been a contingency site since the 1990’s? 

The army, to reduce the number of soldiers injured by electricity in theater, formed a group called Task Force Safe.  The group’s primary task is to conduct safety inspections and fix “issues."  But, due to the limited number of soldiers with electrical backgrounds, the group is small and overburdened.  They were asked to assist and will be looking at a range of electrical safety issues found on their walkthroughs that they submitted to the command and Task Force Safe to correct.

Biography:

Mr. Mitchell attended the Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Electrical Engineering.  He has over twenty years of high-voltage substation design experience and is a licensed engineer in nine states.  Mr. Mitchell is the first college graduate and first military officer in his family. 

Currently a major, Mr. Mitchell has over 19 years in the military spending the first 16 years of his military career in the Georgia National Guard before transferring to the Army Reserves in 2021.  He recently returned from a deployment to the Middle East where he visited multiple installations in the region, troubleshooting issues ranging from safety to power system planning to government contract writing.