Master Chief Clarence “CJ” Mitchell was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH. After graduating from Cincinnati Country Day School and attending The College of Wooster, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve in May 1989. A Boot Camp Honor Graduate, he reported to Naval Reserve Readiness Command Southfield, MI after completing Personnelman (PN) ‘A’ School in Meridian, MS. In February 1991, he was recalled to active duty as a TAR and reported to HS 75, the Emerald Knights, at NAS Jacksonville, FL. While at HS 75, he was advanced to PN2, qualified Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and completed two deployments onboard USS AMERICA (CV 66) and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73).

In October 1993, Master Chief Mitchell reported to PSD NAF Washington, DC as Customer Service Supervisor and Reserve Section Supervisor. In October 1995, he reported onboard USS SIDES (FFG 14) for his second sea tour in San Diego, CA as the Personnel Officer and Administrative Officer. He completed two deployments including CARAT 98. Early in this tour, he was advanced to PN1 and later achieved his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Qualification.

In October 1998, he reported to the flag staff of Commander Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region NINETEEN as the NRF FFG Coordinator embarking every west coast NRF FFG and LST. He was selected to Chief Petty Officer in 1999 and assumed duties as Training Department and Manpower Department LCPO and Assistant Mobilization Officer. He was serving in that capacity during the heavy mobilization in the aftermath of 9/11, coordinating the mobilization of more than 1500 Naval Reservists region wide in less than six weeks.

In May 2002, Master Chief Mitchell reported to the Naval Reserve Personnel Center, New Orleans, LA as the TAR PN/NC/Special Programs Detailer and was selected for advancement to PNCS. In October 2004, he was assigned to Naval Personnel Command (NPC) Millington, TN. He first served as the Coordinator for Naval Personnel and Pay Support (PASS) and PERS 3 Senior Enlisted Leader. He also served on Task Force IA and was a member of the CNO’s Family Readiness Examination Group. He was the 2005 NPC Senior Enlisted Leader of the Year Award winner and was selected to Master Chief in April 2007 and served as the FTS Enlisted Community Manager and Technical Advisor at NPC from March 2007 to June 2009.

He was most recently the Command Master Chief of USS FARRAGUT (DDG 99) in Mayport, FL where he completed a successful 5th Fleet deployment with the USS EISENHOWER Carrier Strike Group. He has earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in History, a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership and is a Ph.D. Candidate in Organization Leadership. He is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 113 Gold Group and CMC/COB Course, Class 62. Master Chief Mitchell assumed duties as Command Master Chief, Commander Navy Reserve Forces Command in January 2012. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Naval Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards) and numerous campaign and unit awards.