2022 Hall of Fame Inductee
University of North Georgia (1975)
Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon was born in Kentucky in March of 1953.
He attended North Georgia College where he earned a political science degree and attended the Army ROTC program.
He received his commission in 1975 as a second lieutenant in the infantry. His first assignment was in the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander. Following attendance at the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Wurzburg, Germany. While there, he served on the Division staff and commanded Company B, 1-15th Infantry in Kitzingen, Germany. His subsequent assignments include duty as Assistant Operations Officer, Readiness Group Knox, Fort Knox, KY, 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 Executive Officer for 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, and Chief of Plans for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky. During this tour, he served in Saudi Arabia, participating in Desert Shield / Desert Storm. In October 1991, he was assigned to the Regional Operations Division of the G3, Southern European Task Force in Vicenza, Italy. He commanded the 3-325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team in Italy from June 1992 to June 1994.
Mixon served as the G3, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from June 1994 to July 1995, then commanded the 1st Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from October 1996 to August 1998. He then served as the Chief of Staff, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from August 1998 to June 1999.
He served 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 served as Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina from July 2002 until June 2003 during which he was forward deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan where he participated in OEF as the Director of the Staff of the Combined Joint Task Force 180. Upon return, he served as the Director of Operations, J3, U.S. Southern Command. Most recently, LTG Mixon commanded the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks Hawaii from July 2005 until January 2008.
From July 2006 to October 2007 he deployed the Division serving as the commander of Task Force Lightning and Multi-National Division North in Iraq. Upon relinquishing command of the 25th Infantry Division, LTG Mixon commanded the U.S. Army, Pacific from February 2008 to March 2011.
During his time in service Mixon earned many awards and decorations to include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Saudi Arabia-Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, the Combat Action Badge and the Philippine Legion of Honor.
36 years after receiving his commission, Mixon retired. He then worked at General Dynamics Information Technology as their Vice President for Integrated Simulations & Training Systems. He also served the University of North Georgia as a trustee for the University of North Georgia Foundation and was a member of the UNG Institute for Leadership & Strategic Studies Advisory Board. In 2018 Mixon was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame and he was selected as a University of North Georgia Distinguished Alumni in 2019.
About the Army ROTC Hall of Fame
The ROTC Hall of Fame was established in 2016 as part of the ROTC Centennial celebration. The first class (2016) inducted 326 former ROTC Cadets who had distinguished themselves in their military or civilian career.
The Hall of Fame honors graduates of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps who have distinguished themselves in military or civilian pursuits. It provides a prestigious and tangible means of recognizing and honoring Army ROTC Alumni who have made lasting, significant contributions to the Nation, the Army and the history and traditions of the Army ROTC Program.
Read more about the 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees.
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