From an early age, Mitch wanted to be a Soldier.

Mitch sought out the Army to serve the Nation. He is a decorated combat veteran with three tours in the Middle East. He led Soldiers in the desert and mountains of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan and on the river plains of the Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq. He coordinated stabilization, reconstruction and development efforts in complex, challenging and often deadly environments. After completing 28 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve, he retired with the rank of Colonel. Mitch holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Mitch comes from a multicultural background of modest means. Scandinavian ancestors farmed the plains in the Midwest. His surrogate family, through his step-father, were Mexican-American migrant workers in the Southwest. A family grounded in working class roots from several ethnic groups represents the great melting pot of America. Family traditions taught him the virtues of personal courage, compassion and self-determination.

When Mitch was not soldiering, he worked in manufacturing. For the past 25 years, he worked in small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. A life experience as a veteran, a diverse family background and an entrepreneur spirit provides a unique world view of the American experience in a global context. Mitch lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Lisa, and together they have five children. When not working on his current project, he enjoys a hot brew, bacon and the occasional three finger bourbon.

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You can email him directly, Mitch at MitchSchmidtke.com.