Johnathan “Drew” Mitchell is a member of the Senior Executive Service and the Director of Science and Technology for the U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, FL. In this role Mr. Mitchell is responsible for the Command’s investment portfolio to discover, develop, test and transition cutting edge technologies for Special Operations Forces. Mr. Mitchell works alongside Department of War and Service S&T organizations to align and amplify their investments to SOF requirements.

Mr. Mitchell serves as the primary advisor to SOF AT&L for evaluating new technologies and strategies, resource planning, science and technology and intelligence related objectives.
As Director he oversees SOCOM’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and industry outreach through SOFWERX.

Mr. Mitchell is a native of Huntsville, Alabama, graduated from Auburn University in 1998 and began his career as a mechanical design engineer with the U.S. Navy at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) in 1999 where he worked multiple development programs for Naval Special Warfare and the Office of Naval Intelligence.

In 2009, Mr. Mitchell transitioned to USSOCOM as the Program Manager for Special Projects within the Science and Technology Directorate.  While in this position, he managed the technical development, funding and inter-service partnerships of a variety of special programs in signature management, mobility, C4I, and power and energy systems.  

Mr. Mitchell was promoted in 2012 to Deputy Program Executive Officer for Maritime Systems.  In this position he was responsible for the acquisition oversight and planning of all Special Operations Forces maritime mobility and diving systems.  During his tenure as Deputy, he oversaw the recapitalization of the entire fleet of Naval Special Warfare high speed combatant craft and combat submersibles.  Mr. Mitchell also led the maritime equipment capability working group with coalition allies United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

In 2014 Mr. Mitchell was selected as the Deputy Program Executive Officer for Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications and Computers at USSOCOM where he was responsible for the acquisition oversight and planning of all USSOCOM enterprise networks, data transport and tactical communication systems.

In 2015 Mr. Michell departed government service where is worked as a Senior Program Manager, General Manager and Director for the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. He is responsible for managing a multidisciplinary team of 45 personnel with expertise ranging from mobile software development, antenna and optics design, automated test design and embedded software development for the purpose of rapid integration, test and production of unique solutions supporting Draper’s business with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and US Navy Strategic Strike programs. He leads USSOCOM business development and capture for Draper’s National Security and Space Division and is the focal point for new business in central Florida and engagement with local government.

In 2023 Mr. Mitchell joined AEVEX Aerospace as the Vice President of Engineering. In this role Mr. Mitchell led the formation of the Tactical Systems business unit’s engineering department, oversaw implementation of quality management best practices and career development of the engineering staff.

He and his wife, Sarah, have four children, Benjamin, Richard, Asher and Reese. They currently reside in Tampa, FL.

EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

2003 Master of Science degree in Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio

2013 Graduate of Defense Systems Management College, Advanced Program Managers Course, Ft. Belvoir, VA