David Mitchell was named Commissioner of the Department of Safety by Governor Phil Bredesen in January, 2007. At the same time, the Governor also announced intentions to merge Safety with the Office of Homeland Security. Mitchell has served as Director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security since November of 2005. In that role, he has prioritized information sharing by establishing a State Fusion Center in partnership with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and by expanding the state’s counter terrorism training program.

Mitchell began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Police Department after his graduation from Middle Tennessee State University in 1973, where he earned a Bachelors degree in Political Science. He also served as an instructor at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and as a deputy sheriff in Tampa, Florida, with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

In May, 1978, Mitchell began his 26-year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He served in the New Orleans, New York City, Atlanta and Milwaukee field offices. He also served at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as Supervisor of Domestic Terrorism Investigations in 1987, and in 1998 as an Inspector.

Mitchell was a member of the nation’s first Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York City, where FBI agents, New York City detectives and a number of federal and state agencies successfully dismantled several violent domestic terrorist organizations.

In February, 2002, FBI Director Bob Mueller promoted Mitchell to the position of Special Agent in Charge of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, field office. In May, 2003, Director Mueller deployed Mitchell to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the on scene commander to lead the investigation of al Qaeda bombings at three western compounds where eight Americans were killed. During this investigation, Mitchell worked closely with Saudi security forces, British and Canadian counter terrorism authorities.

Mitchell has investigated and managed major terrorism and criminal enterprise investigations. He promotes partnerships at all levels of law enforcement and believes the success to preventing future acts of terrorism is dependent on effective information sharing; training and cooperative partnerships among federal, state and local agencies.

Mitchell resides in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife, Rosie. He has two children and five grandchildren.

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