David Mitchell, Director
Office of Homeland Security

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Biography

David Mitchell began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the Murfreesboro, Tennessee Police Department after graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in 1973 with a Bachelors degree in Political Science.  He also served as an instructor at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and as a deputy sheriff in Tampa, Florida with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office.

In May, 1978 Mr. Mitchell began his twenty-six year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He served in the New Orleans, New York City, Atlanta and Milwaukee field offices.  He served at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as Supervisor of Domestic Terrorism Investigations in 1987 and in 1998 as an Inspector.

Mr. Mitchell was a member of the Nation’s first Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York City where FBI Agents, New York City Detectives and a number of Federal and State agencies successfully dismantled a number of violent domestic terrorist organizations.

In February, 2002 FBI Director Bob Mueller promoted Mr. Mitchell to the position of Special Agent in Charge of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin field office.

In May, 2003 Director Mueller deployed Mr. Mitchell to Riyadh Saudi Arabia as the on seen commander to lead the investigation of al Qaeda bombings at three western compounds where eight Americans were killed.  During this investigation Mr. Mitchell worked closely with Saudi security forces, British and Canadian counter terrorism authorities. 

Mr. Mitchell has investigated and managed major terrorism and criminal enterprise investigations.  He promotes partnerships at all levels of law enforcement and believes the success to preventing future acts of terrorism is dependent on effective information sharing; training; and cooperative partnerships among Federal, State, and local agencies.

In November 2005 the Honorable Governor Phil Bredesen appointed Mr. Mitchell as the Director of the Governors Office of Homeland Security.  Mr. Mitchell has prioritized information sharing through establishing a State Fusion Center in a partnership with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and expanding the State’s counter terrorism training program.