In 1945 he became the clarinet soloist for the band,[4] and the following year graduated from The Catholic University of America with a Bachelor of Music degree.

For some time after World War II, he also was the conductor and musical director of a weekly television broadcast featuring leading artists of the day.

[4] By 1956, he had risen to the rank of Warrant Officer, was promoted to Third Leader, and began conducting the Navy Band on many of its national tours.

[1][5] 19 members of the band's string section, including its assistant director, were traveling on a Navy R6D transport plane en route to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a presidential reception between Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower when the plane collided on final approach with a Brazilian airliner over Guanabara bay.

[6] On the day Mitchell assumed his post (February 26, 1962), he led the US Navy band in Washington's official welcome to astronaut John Glenn.

The LP was the Navy's contribution to a unique four album set featuring each military branch band—the first time the bands had released their recordings commercially.

[1] Mitchell led the band on national tours, including its first ever performance at New York City's Carnegie Hall in 1966.

[11] He also founded an annual Washington Area Soloist Festival for young musicians, and introduced a series of children's concerts.