Kimberly Mitchell

Kimberly Mitchell is the Senior Vice President for Military, Veteran and Government Affairs at National
University. Until recently she held the position of President and CEO of Veterans Village of San Diego, where
she led a robust team who serve over 3000 veterans annually by providing veterans experiencing challenges
post service with residential treatment programs, mental health programs, and support services. Kim is a
nationally recognized leading vocal advocate for our service members, veterans, military families and Gold
Star Families and frequently speaks at non-profit, community, and corporate conferences in communities
across the country. Adopted during the Vietnam War from an orphanage in DaNang in 1972, Kim is also
recognized as an advocate for our Vietnam Veterans and Vietnam era veterans. She was the official
spokesperson for the Department of Defense 50 Year Vietnam War Commemoration Committee for 3 years,
and over the past 8 years has participated in events across the country recognizing and honoring the service of
our Vietnam Veterans.
Kim served in the United States Navy for 17 years as a Surface Warfare Officer serving onboard surface ships
and at shore commands. She was hand selected by the Secretary of the Navy and the White House to serve as
a White House Military Social Aide where she participated in more than six hundred events hosted by the
President and First Lady under two administrations. Her last 2 years on active duty she worked for the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the Deputy Director of the Office of Warrior and Family Support. Kim
has worked with hundreds of communities and has assisted thousands of organizations to find solutions to
address the challenges of transition and reintegration for our service members, veterans and military families.
After departing the Navy in 2012, she was the President and Co-Founder of Dixon Center for Military and
Veterans Services where she worked with over 650 communities nationwide and thousands of organizations
assisting service men and women transitioning from the military to the local community. In July 2017, Kim
moved to San Diego to be the first non-Vietnam Veteran and first woman selected to be President & CEO of
Veterans Village of San Diego. In March of 2020, she stepped down from her position at VVSD to lead National
University’s educational efforts providing secondary education for our service members, veterans, and their
families.
Kim is the recipient of numerous personal and unit awards while serving in the Navy. She received recognition
from the Assistant Secretary of State for her work on United Nations Policies in Iraq and United Nations
Peacekeeping programs in the Middle East, and recognition from the Deputy Director, Defense Security
Cooperation Agency for her work in the Middle East region in Foreign Military Sales to Iraq, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Bahrain and Yemen.
Kim currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), Hershel
Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, Infinite Hero Foundation, and sits on the Advisory Committee for
Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and served for 2 years as a Trustee on the Board for the National
University System. She is a 2019 George W. Bush Presidential Center Stand-To Veterans Leadership Program
Scholar. Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy in Ocean Engineering and a
Master’s degree from The George Washington University in Organizational Management.