“It is with great sadness that I report another loss in our NHF family—former NHF president Rear Admiral John T. Mitchell who joined our board in 2010 and relieved VADM Bob Dunn as president in 2012, serving in the post for four years. A graduate of the Rice University NROTC program, Mitchell had a successful career as an Engineering Duty Officer. He managed the development of our submarine launched ballistic missiles and after his retirement from the Navy acted as a senior manager at multiple facilities for the National Nuclear Security Administration, thus endearing himself to our former NHF chairman ADM Bruce DeMars. Given his birth date of December 7, 1941, he always felt a strong connection with naval history and public service.”
-Rear Admiral Edward “Sonny” Masso, USN (Ret.)
“John Mitchell was a friend, mentor, advisor and practical leader who served the Foundation, its staff and members, and its chairman Adm. Bruce DeMars with skill and enthusiasm. His devotion to the cause of naval history was evident in the many hours he spent at the Foundation office and his tireless advocacy on behalf of the Foundation and its mission. He began the program of Foundation outreach to distant parts of the nation where our members lived and worked—I’ll never forget the memorable field trip to Monterey, California to help promote our programs. In his initial message to our members as he began his tour as president, he said ‘I look forward to sharing this voyage with you!’ I and many others will miss his infectious smile and his wry sense of humor as we voyaged together for naval heritage.”
-Captain Charles T. Creekman Jr., USN (Ret.)
