I was born in Iowa, the oldest of three siblings. They are smarter, more compassionate, and better looking than me. Our family moved to Southern California when I was nine where I became an Angels baseball fan. I worked on my grandfather's farm in Iowa every summer until I turned 16. I ran cross country and track in high school and worked at Disneyland my last years of high school. I had wanted to fly since I was three and decided I wanted to go the U.S. Air Force Academy to achieve that dream.
I earned my undergraduate degree in International Affairs from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Systems Management from the from the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in International Business from the International School of Management, Paris, France. A former career Air Force officer and command pilot, I have had a second career in business, academics, and as a writer. My career has spanned the globe--72 countries and counting, where I have had growing opportunities to work with leaders of nations and captains of industry. I have served as the CEO of several companies, a leader of an Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies in the United States two years in a row, a Director of both for profit and non-profit enterprise boards, and as a university professor.
My other adolescent dream was to own a bookstore and write books in the upstairs apartment. I have owned a small publishing company and I am the author of some great books, but my house is only one floor. I have worked hard on writing the Great American Novel and so far one takes place in Latin America, the next in the Middle East, and the most recent contains six novellas that span the globe. I am the father of 6 children and grandfather of 7. My wife Vicky and I presently live in the foothills of the California Sierras. If you want to know even more about me, go to http://www.mike-mitchell.com/about.html or https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljmitchell
