COLONEL RICK E. “MCGRAW” MITCHELL
Colonel Rick “McGraw” Mitchell is the Deputy Commander of the 442d Fighter Wing (FW), Whiteman Air Force Base, MO. The 442d FW is one of three Air Force Reserve owned and equipped Fighter Wings and it operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. As the Deputy Commander, he is responsible for the manning, training, equipping, and overall combat readiness for approximately 1,300 Air Force reservists at Whiteman AFB and one geographically separated unit, the 476th Fighter Group at Moody AFB, GA. By ensuring the Wings’ airmen are combat ready, he ensures the Wing is always ready to attack, support, and defend in any of the United States military’s combatant commands.
Colonel Mitchell entered the Air Force through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) in 2002 after graduating from Southern Illinois University- Carbondale. He received his Air Force wings in 2004 from the Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, TX and became a qualified A-10 pilot in 2005 at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. After entering the operational Air Force, he served on active duty for 12 years as an operational A-10C evaluator pilot before joining the Air Force Reserves in 2014. He has commanded at the Flight, Squadron, and Group level and commanded an expeditionary fighter squadron with over 400 Airmen under his command. He has experience at the operational level of war from his time in Pacific Air Force (PACAF) as an IMA. Finally, he is a command pilot with more than 3700 flying hours with 6 flying combat tours to the CENTCOM AOR.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science degree in Management, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL – Distinguished Graduate
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Joint Firepower Control Course, Nellis AFB, NV
2007 Fighter Electronic Combat Officers Course, Nellis AFB, NV
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 Masters Degree in Human Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
2011 Advanced Instrument School, Mike Monroney FAA Center, Oklahoma City, OK
2012 Life Sciences Equipment Investigation Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
2013 Aviation Safety Management Course & Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, NM
2013 Air Command and Staff College
2018 Reserve Forces Integration Course, NATO School Oberammergau, Germany
2020 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Ft, McNair - Washington DC
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2023 Air Force Safety and Accident Board Investigation President’s Course, Kirtland AFB, NM, via remote learning
2024 Air Component Senior Leadership Course, Hurlburt Field, FL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2002 – February 2004, Student Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
2. February 2004 – August 2004, Student Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, TX
3. August 2004 – March 2005, A-10 Initial Qualification Course, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
4. March 2005 – May 2008, A-10 Pilot, Chief of Scheduling & Training, Whiteman AFB, MO
5. May 2008 – May 2010, A-10 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander/Assistant Director of Operations, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, ROK
6. May 2010 – August 2010, A-10C Model Conversion Course, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
7. August 2010 – February 2014, A-10C Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, Aircrew Flight Equipment Officer, 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, GA
8. February 2014 - December 2017, A-10C Instructor, JTAC Liaison Officer, Flight Commander, Air Expeditionary Force Project Officer, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO
9. December 2017- June 2019, Director of Operations, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO
10. June 2019 – August 2021, Commander, 303d Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO
11. August 2021 – November 2022, Deputy Commander, 442d Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, MO
12. November 2022 – Present, Chief, Wing Plans and Readiness, 442d Fighter Wing2, Whiteman AFB, MO
13. November 2022 – August 2025, IMA to the Chief, Combat Operations Division, 613 Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
14. August 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 442d Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: Over 3,700 (1,340 Combat)
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, A/OA-10A, A-10+, and A-10C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with sixteen “C” Devices and oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one “V” device and five oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with five service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Short with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one “M” Device
Air and Space Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
2nd Lieutenant, May 29, 2002
1st Lieutenant, May 29, 2004
Captain, May 29, 2006
Major, Jul 01, 2012
Lt Colonel, Sep 04, 2018
Colonel, Nov 01, 2023
(Current as of Aug 2025)