SK James W. Mitchell, Right Eminent Grand Commander
Grand Commander – 2018-2019
SK James W. Mitchell, REGC of the Grand Commandery of the District of Columbia
Sir Knight James W. Mitchell was born February 26, 1938, to Paul L. and Martha A. Mitchell in Johnson City, Tennessee. Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1953 at the age of 15, he received a direct commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 11th Special Forces Group in July 1966. He served as an A Team Commander, Communications and Electronics Officer, and retired as a Colonel, Deputy G-3, Reserve Forces Training, 101st Airborne Division ,Fort Campbell ,Kentucky in April 1992. He retired from the Department of Transportation, as a Program Director for the Telecommunications Management and Operations Division located in Washington D.C. on September 3 ,1996.
During his U.S. Army assignments, he received a B.S. Degree in Physics in 1975 and a Masters of Business Administration, in 1977 from the University of Central Oklahoma. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at FT Leavenworth ,Kansas in September 1985.
He has been married to his wife, Nancy Francisco Mitchell, for 60 years, and they have one daughter, Gina Mitchell Perpignano. Since retirement in September 1996, he has dedicated his free time to Masonry and Senior Softball. He is also a member of Groveton Baptist Church, Alexandria, Va where he teaches a Sunday school class for seniors.
While stationed at Ft. Stewart ,Georgia, Sir Knight Mitchell’s Masonic career began in Acacia Lodge No. 452 in Savannah, Georgia, where he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on November 17, 1964 . He is a Master of the Royal Secret of the 32 Degree of the Ancient and Accpeted Scottish Rite issued by Guthrie Consistory in the Valley of Guthrie , Orient of Oklahoma on January 19,1975. He is currently a KCCH of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Washington, Orient of the District of Columbia.
In September 2000, he demitted from Acacia Lodge No 452 and became a member of William R. Singleton Hope Lebanon Lodge No 7. In the year 2010, he was installed as Worshipful Master. In April 2001 he was exalted to the most sublime degree of Royal Arch Mason in William R. Singleton Chapter No 4 R.A.M.,D.C. and served as High Priest in 2005. SK Mitchell served as Grand High Priest Royal Arch Masons, D.C. for the year 2010. The Royal Master and Select Master Degrees were conferred on SK Mitchell by Washington Council No 1 Cryptic Masons of D.C. in May 2001. He served as Illustrious Master in 2008 and is currently the Treasurer of Washington Council No 1.
In November 2001 the Orders of the Red Cross, Malta and Templar were conferred by The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the District of Columbia on Companion Mitchell. He served as Commander of Washington Commandery No 1 for the year 2006. He was duly received into INRI Tabernacle No XXXVII, H.R.A.K.T.P., in October 2007. SK Mitchell is a Past Preceptor of Robert V. Hines, Order of Knights Preceptor. The Knight York Cross Of Honor was conferred by George Washington Priory No 77 in December 2012. SK Mitchell received the Legion of Honor of The Order of DeMolay from the Nation’s Capital Preceptory in June 2010.