Brigadier General Mitchell R. Chitwood was commissioned in the Field Artillery in 1985 through Army ROTC at Georgetown University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree. He attended law school at the University of Utah and, after graduating in 1988, branch transferred to the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. During law school he served in the Army Reserve in the 162d Support Group in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Following graduation from law school, BG Chitwood served more than seven years on active duty as a Judge Advocate. His assignments included: Trial Counsel, Claims Officer, Legal Assistance Attorney, and Administrative Law Attorney with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fulda, Germany (1988-90); Brigade Judge Advocate for the 12th Aviation Brigade in Saudi Arabia during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990-91); Command Judge Advocate, JTF Bravo, Operation Provide Comfort in Iraq (1991); Senior Defense Counsel in Garlstedt and Bremerhaven, Germany (1991-93); and Trial Attorney, Contract Appeals Division, Arlington, Virginia (1993-96).
BG Chitwood left active duty in 1996 and returned to the Army Reserve. His assignments include: Chief of International Law, Mobilization Officer, and Executive Officer (Training), 1st Legal Support Organization, San Antonio, Texas (1996-2001); Executive Officer (Training), Regional Defense Counsel, and Deputy Commander, 22d Legal Support Organization (TDS - West), Grand Prairie, Texas (2001 to 2006); Reserve Liaison Officer to the Chief, U.S. Army Trial Defense Service (2006-2007), Rosslyn, Virginia; Commander, 2d Legal Support Organization (2007-2011), New Orleans, Louisiana; G-7 and Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command (2011-2012), Gaithersburg, Maryland. During his command of the 2d Legal Support Organization, Colonel Chitwood was mobilized and served as Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (2009-2010). BG Chitwood was nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and assignment as Deputy Commanding General, 63d Regional Support Command, Moffett Field, California in May of 2012.
BG Chitwood was mobilized and deployed to Afghanistan in November 2014 where he served until December 2015 as Director, Essential Function 3, Rule of Law, for the NATO Resolution Support Mission.
In his civilian career, BG Chitwood is the Associate General Counsel, General Law, Office of the General Counsel, for the Social Security Administration.