Allen Mitchell, equipment bureau chief for Arlington County, Va., announced he will retire effective Nov. 1, 2013. He joined Arlington County in January 2012. His responsibilities at Arlington County include managing the County fleet consisting of 1,500 assets. He also manages a $17.4 million budget and supervises maintenance, business (administration) and stores programs including three program managers and a 60-person staff. The Equipment Bureau provides comprehensive fleet services to Arlington County departments and Arlington Public Schools. Currently, 85% of the County fleet is capable of operating on alternative fuels.

Previously, Mitchell was fleet manager for Snohomish County, Wash., where he served for 19 years. Joining the Snohomish County in October 1992, Mitchell managed the Fleet Management Division of the Public Works Department. He supervised a staff of 49 at three locations and managed a $25 million budget. Among his other responsibilities at Snohomish County, Mitchell provided maintenance and repair services to 15 local agencies and all County departments; procured assets, fuels, materials and supplies; disposed of surplus equipment; administered intergovernmental agreements. Mitchell consolidated four facilities into three and managed remodeling of two maintenance facilities and building a new state-of-the art maintenance facility to support the County fleet. Mitchell left Snohomish County in December 2011.

Prior to this, Mitchell was equipment supervisor for King County, Wash., from April 1987 to October 1992. While at King County, Mitchell supervised the heavy equipment section of the Fleet Administration Division of the Public Works Department. He supervised a 25-member staff and provided maintenance and repair, parts and supplies, and fuel to the heavy equipment fleet.

Before joining King County, he served as transportation services manager for Rainier Bancorporation, a regional financial services corporation, for nine years from 1978 to October 1992. Mitchell managed a fleet operated in five western states and established corporate fleet policies to control fleet expansion and cost.

After serving as an Army officer from June 1969 through September 1973, he was employed by the State of Washington department of general administration as a motor pool manager from December 1975 through May 1977 and then served in an intern capacity in the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services until joining Rainier Bancorporation.

After retirement Mitchell will return to Washington State to prepare his home for sale and then plans to move to Texas. He plans to pursue his hobbies of fishing and guitar playing, doing some work for his church, and perhaps an occasional consulting project. His new personal e-mail is allen.mitchell33@gmail.com.

By Mike Antich