By Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs

White Sands Missile Range welcomed a new Garrison Commander during a Change of Command ceremony June 8 at the Frontier Club as outgoing Garrison Commander Col. Ryan Howell relinquished command to incoming Garrison Commander Col. David A. Mitchell.

Garrison welcomes new commander

WSMR Commander Brig. Gen. Eric Little welcomed members of the community to the event.

“Over the past two years the Garrison Commander Col. Ryan Howell has expertly commanded this Garrison,” Little said. “He is always composed, clear minded and focused on taking care of this installation.”

“We (also) welcome an impressive and gifted leader with Col. David A. Mitchell. He has an impressive resume and is an absolute proven leader.”

Brenda Lee McCullough, Director, Installation Management Command-Readiness, officiated the Change of Command. She said it was a privilege to be here to salute an outstanding Garrison Commander Col. Ryan Howell and to welcome a new Garrison Commander Col. David A. Mitchell.

“Installation Management Command is no longer just the Army’s home. We are the strategic deployment platform to ensure the warfighting Soldiers and units can rapidly deploy to any theater across the globe,” McCullough said. “And you Ryan, as the Garrison Commander have served steadfast and firm in our defense.”

“From July 2020 to June 2022 you led your entire team providing exceptional support to the commander, Brig. Gen. Little, and you accomplished this while balancing the realities and requirements of a critical mission.”

Howell thanked all the members of the Garrison team and his family for their support.

“The Garrison are the amazing men and women who care for you and your families so you can go about preparing our United States military to fight and win our nations wars,” Howell said. “On the surface that sounds very basic, but it is an immensely complex mission that happens every single day.”

“Thank you, U.S. Army Garrison White Sands Missile Range, for taking care of our families, our service members our community and thank you for enabling WSMR to test the future to change the world so our military can fight and win our nations wars,” Howell said.

Mitchell then thanked his family and the community for attending the event.

“I am truly blessed and humbled to be taking command of this family of professionals,” Mitchell said. “I look forward to the responsibility of command and the bond we will share.”

Mitchell a native of Richmond, Virginia received his commission as a Transportation Officer through ROTC from Gannon University in 1999, and shortly thereafter, attended the office basic course at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

He attended the Commanding General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he also completed his master’s in Supply Chain Management and Logistics from the University of Kansas. He is also a graduate of the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

He has served at every level in the military, serving leadership positions at the tactical level in both the 3^rd Infantry Division, where assigned as Platoon Leader, in the 703^rd Main Support Battalion and in the 4^th Infantry Division serving as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 67^th Brigade Support Battalion, 4^th Infantry Division from 2007-2009. He later commanded the 840^th Transportation Battalion, Camp Arifijan, Kuwait. Upon completion of command, he was selected to be the 10^th Mountain Division ACofS G4, Fort Drum, New York. In 2019, he served as the Deputy Division-Chief, Sustainment Maintenance Division HQDA G4.

He has deployed five times between both Iraq and Kuwait.