Benjamin R. Mixon
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Benjamin Randaulph "Randy" Mixon (born March 6, 1953) is a former Commanding General of United States Army Pacific and the former commander of the Multi-National Division North
in Iraq. LTG Mixon retired from active duty after 35 years of service on May 1st, 2011.
s in the United States.
in 1975 and was subsequently assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 505th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He served as both a Platoon Leader and Company Commander. After the 82nd Mixon attended and then graduated from the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and was reassigned to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), in Würzburg
. While there, he served on the Division staff and commanded Company B of the 1st Battalion of the 15th Infantry Regiment in Kitzingen, Germany. His subsequent assignments include duty as Assistant Operations Officer, Readiness Group Knox at Fort Knox
and as Company Commander for Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and Liaison Officer for the 75th Ranger Regiment.
From 1988 to 1991, Mixon served as the Executive Officer
of the 3rd Battalion of the 502nd Infantry Regiment, and Chief of Plans for the 101st Airborne Division
at Fort Campbell
. It was during this tour that Mixon deployed to Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. In October 1991 he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion of the 325th Regiment in Vicenza, Italy until June 1994. After leaving Italy Mixon moved to the staff of the 101st Airborne Division
. He assumed command of the Division's 1st Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment from October 1996 to August 1998. before returning to a staff position from August 1998 to June 1999.
Mixon left the 101st to serve as the Director of Joint Training and Exercises for the United States Joint Forces Command
from June 1999 to July 2001 and from July 2001 to June 2002, as the Assistant Division Commander (Operations) for the 82nd Airborne Division. Mixon was then promoted to Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg
from July 2002 until June 2003. During that time he deployed to Baghram Air Base in Afghanistan
where he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom as the Director of the Staff of the Combined Joint Task Force 180
. Upon returning, he served as the Director of Operations, J3, United States Southern Command
.
In July 2005 Mixon took commanded the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks until January 2008. While commanding the 25th Mixon deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and commanded both Task Force Lightning and Multi-National Division North in Iraq
. During this time that Mixon oversaw heavy fighting in the Diyala province. It was during his time as commander of all coalition forces in northern Iraq that Mixon became a early and public proponent of the surge strategy in Iraq
. Upon relinquishing command of the 25th Infantry Division in February 2008 Mixon assumed command of United States Army Pacific.
outlining his opposition to a proposed repeal of the Pentagon's Don't ask, don't tell
policy. In the letter, Mixon challenged the notion that the majority of service members support a change in the policy and advocated both service members and their families to speak out in opposition to any change. Both the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen publicly rebuked Mixon saying that because of Mixon's status as an active military general such a public statement was "inappropriate". Although some recommended it, he was never formally reprimanded for his actions. On March 31, 2010 Army Secretary John McHugh said, “We consider the matter closed as of today,” and went on to say that Mixon would "not be reprimanded or asked to resign" because of the comments.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
Benjamin Randaulph "Randy" Mixon (born March 6, 1953) is a former Commanding General of United States Army Pacific and the former commander of the Multi-National Division North
Iraq War order of battle
Below is a estimate of the list of the major units deployed with the Multi-National Force - Iraq and other U.S. military units operating in Iraq under United States Central Command . It has been compiled through the synthesis of many many wikipedia contributors in the years 2006-2009...
in Iraq. LTG Mixon retired from active duty after 35 years of service on May 1st, 2011.
Early life
In 1975 Mixon graduated from North Georgia College, one of the six Senior military collegeSenior Military College
In the United States, a Senior Military College is one of six colleges that offer military Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs and are specifically recognized under 10 USC 2111a...
s in the United States.
Army career
Benjamin Mixon was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of InfantryInfantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
in 1975 and was subsequently assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 505th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He served as both a Platoon Leader and Company Commander. After the 82nd Mixon attended and then graduated from the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and was reassigned to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
. While there, he served on the Division staff and commanded Company B of the 1st Battalion of the 15th Infantry Regiment in Kitzingen, Germany. His subsequent assignments include duty as Assistant Operations Officer, Readiness Group Knox at Fort Knox
Fort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet...
and as Company Commander for Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and Liaison Officer for the 75th Ranger Regiment.
From 1988 to 1991, Mixon served as the Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
of the 3rd Battalion of the 502nd Infantry Regiment, and Chief of Plans for the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
. It was during this tour that Mixon deployed to Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. In October 1991 he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion of the 325th Regiment in Vicenza, Italy until June 1994. After leaving Italy Mixon moved to the staff of the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
. He assumed command of the Division's 1st Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment from October 1996 to August 1998. before returning to a staff position from August 1998 to June 1999.
Mixon left the 101st to serve as the Director of Joint Training and Exercises for the United States Joint Forces Command
United States Joint Forces Command
United States Joint Forces Command was a former Unified Combatant Command of the United States Armed Forces. USJFCOM was a functional command that provided specific services to the military. The last commander was Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno...
from June 1999 to July 2001 and from July 2001 to June 2002, as the Assistant Division Commander (Operations) for the 82nd Airborne Division. Mixon was then promoted to Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
from July 2002 until June 2003. During that time he deployed to Baghram Air Base in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
where he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom as the Director of the Staff of the Combined Joint Task Force 180
Combined Joint Task Force 82
Combined Joint Task Force – 82 is a US led subordinate formation of the International Security Assistance Force . It originally served as both the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reporting directly to the Commander, United States Central Command, and as ISAF's Regional...
. Upon returning, he served as the Director of Operations, J3, United States Southern Command
United States Southern Command
The United States Southern Command , located in Miami, Florida, is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands in the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning and operations in Central and South America, the Caribbean The United States Southern Command...
.
In July 2005 Mixon took commanded the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks until January 2008. While commanding the 25th Mixon deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and commanded both Task Force Lightning and Multi-National Division North in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. During this time that Mixon oversaw heavy fighting in the Diyala province. It was during his time as commander of all coalition forces in northern Iraq that Mixon became a early and public proponent of the surge strategy in Iraq
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
. Upon relinquishing command of the 25th Infantry Division in February 2008 Mixon assumed command of United States Army Pacific.
Don't Ask Don't Tell
On March 8, 2010 Lt Gen Mixon wrote a letter to the editor of Stars and StripesStars and Stripes (newspaper)
Stars and Stripes is a news source that operates from inside the United States Department of Defense but is editorially separate from it. The First Amendment protection which Stars and Stripes enjoys is safeguarded by Congress to whom an independent ombudsman, who serves the readers' interests,...
outlining his opposition to a proposed repeal of the Pentagon's Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policy. In the letter, Mixon challenged the notion that the majority of service members support a change in the policy and advocated both service members and their families to speak out in opposition to any change. Both the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen publicly rebuked Mixon saying that because of Mixon's status as an active military general such a public statement was "inappropriate". Although some recommended it, he was never formally reprimanded for his actions. On March 31, 2010 Army Secretary John McHugh said, “We consider the matter closed as of today,” and went on to say that Mixon would "not be reprimanded or asked to resign" because of the comments.