NC ROTC Roundtable

The NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in conjunction with the North Carolina State University presents the

6th Annual North Carolina ROTC Roundtable

Date: Friday, March 27th

Location: 2810 Cates Avenue, Witherspoon Student Center, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695

Guest Speakers

Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette

Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette is the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and is a third-generation service member. As Secretary, Jocelyn leads the Department in its mission to support the military and veteran connected communities in North Carolina.

As the daughter of Goldsboro natives, Jocelyn received her nomination to the United States Air Force (USAF) Academy from North Carolina Congresswoman Eva Clayton. After graduating, Jocelyn served for ten years in the USAF. First, as an Admissions Officer at the Air Force Academy. Then, she secured a mission critical assignment as an intelligence officer, during which she briefed pilots in South Carolina and in Germany. Jocelyn cross-trained into the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps after graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Jocelyn served as a prosecutor and general practice attorney in the JAG Corps at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. After ten years of active-duty military service, Jocelyn started her civilian career as an attorney by clerking for the Honorable Barbara A. Jackson of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Following her clerkship, Jocelyn spent six years at the international law firm of McGuireWoods, where she represented Fortune 500 companies in complex commercial litigation and became partner.  

As an active member of her community, Jocelyn currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. She also is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Junior League of Raleigh. She is married to Harold A. Mallette, who is a licensed architect, and she is the proud mother of two hilarious and lively children. 

Colonel Gregory Pace

Colonel Gregory Pace is a native of Tuskegee, Alabama, and is a graduate of Troy University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. He enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in November 1989, where he served as a Combat Signaler with the 6th Battalion, 159th Aviation Brigade and the 282nd Quartermaster Company. Colonel Pace was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in April 1998.

After completing The Basic School, 2nd Lt. Pace was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-3, where he served as the Assistant Group Supply Officer. In December 2000, 1st Lt. Pace was reassigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, as the Battalion Supply Officer and deployed to Okinawa, Japan, supporting the Unit Deployment Program (UDP). Upon redeployment, he was assigned to 3rd Marine Regiment, from 2001-2003, where he served as the Regimental Supply Officer and Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment. In 2003, Capt. Pace was reassigned as Logistics Officer, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, where he served as the Battalion Landing Team S-4 in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon returning from deployment with the 31st MEU, he was reassigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, where he went on to serve as the Regimental Motor Transportation and Maintenance Management Officer.

In June of 2004, Capt. Pace reported to 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the Commanding Officer for Headquarters Company and the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Distribution Center (MDC) Company, and the Assistant Battalion Operations Officer from 2004-2007. During this assignment, Capt. Pace deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, with Combat Logistics Regiment-25 (Fwd), from 2006-2007 serving as the MDC, Officer-in-Charge and with II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) from 2007-2008 where he served as the Sustainment Officer for Iraqi Security Force Logistics. While in Iraq, Capt. Pace was selected to attend the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course (CLCCC) in Fort Lee, Virginia.

Following completion of CLCCC, Capt. Pace was assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps from June 2008 to June 2011, where he served as the Battalion Operations Officer and Installations and Logistics, Policies, and Capabilities as an Action Officer from 2009- 2011.

From 2011-2013, Maj. Pace served with 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as the Assistant Division Supply Officer, Officer-in-Charge Supply Management Analyst Team, and the Division Supply Officer. During this assignment, Maj. Pace was selected for the Commandant's National Fellowship Program and served as a Marine Corps Fellow to the United States Chamber of Commerce. Upon completing his year-long fellowship, he was assigned as the Battalion Executive Officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps.

In June 2015, LtCol. Pace assumed command of 1st Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 in Camp Pendleton, California. Upon completion of this assignment, LtCol. Pace attended the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Defense and Resource Strategy, after which he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, J-4 Logistics Directorate, as the Strategic Policy Branch Chief and as the Joint Logistics Operations Center Battle Captain in the National Military Command Center. He was later assigned as the G4 with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Following this assignment, Col. Pace assumed command of Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California. In July 2024, Col. Pace assumed the duties of deputy commander for Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His personal awards include a Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (with four gold stars in lieu of fifth award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with two gold stars in lieu of third award), Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Medal (with four bronze stars in lieu of fifth award).

Colonel Henry Mitnaul (Retired, USAF)

Colonel (Ret.) Henry Mitnaul began his military career following his commissioning through the University of South Carolina, where he graduated as an ROTC Distinguished Graduate. Over a 30-year Air Force career, he served in a wide range of key leadership and staff positions spanning space operations, strategic planning, legislative affairs, and intercontinental ballistic missile operations.
Colonel Mitnaul’s assignments included serving as Deputy Director of the Space Protection Program, where he provided senior Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office leaders with timely solutions to complex space security challenges. He later served as Chief of the Program Integration Division at Headquarters Air Force Space Command, overseeing planning and programming activities for more than $12 billion in space and strategic resources, including multiple Special Access Programs.
He also served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs as a Military Assistant, advising on defense and national security matters of critical interest to the Secretary of Defense and members of Congress. Earlier in his career, Colonel Mitnaul commanded the 741st Missile Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, leading 240 personnel responsible for the safe and secure operation of 50 Minuteman III ICBM launch facilities and 5 missile alert facilities valued at more than $850 million. His additional assignments included service as an Air Force Intern at the Pentagon and as a Titan II ICBM System Evaluator and Senior Instructor Commander.
Following his retirement from active duty, Colonel Mitnaul served as the Colorado Springs Operations Manager for COLSA Corporation. In this role, he led regional business development efforts, managed personnel and resources across Colorado-based contracts, and expanded corporate presence into new markets.
Colonel Mitnaul holds a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of South Carolina. He is also a graduate of Air Command and Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, Squadron Officer School, and multiple ICBM crew training and safety leadership programs, earning distinguished graduate honors in several courses.
 

Brigadier General Arnold N. Gordon-Bray, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray completed over three decades of service in the United States Army where he demonstrated professional leadership skills in strategic communications, combat operations, foreign affairs and effective modernization in support of the Department of Defense and National Interests. As Owner and founder of ANGB Consulting LLC, his major endeavors now include: Consultant for Threat Emulations, independent consultant with Burdeshaw Inc. and pursuing his passion with 360 Cradle to Careers (a nonprofit committed to changing outcomes for underserved Americans in HUD housing through STEM education and innovation networks, and Envision centers); Dakar Interactive, (a collaborative environment for arts and STEM); Additionally, he consults and advises on myriad issues involving American interests Strategically, Operations and humanitarian concerns at home and abroad. His interests and experience has afforded him the opportunity to participate on myriad National, State and Community Boards including: the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission and he is a Lieutenant-Governor within Kiwanis International Carolina District.

Leadership is his watchword. Gordon-Bray has extensive experience in commanding various levels of military forces from a platoon of 40 military service members to spearheading military operations in Iraq with a Brigade Combat Team consisting of over 4,500 men and women with the 2nd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. He has transitioned his global Strategic views on issues of leadership, diversity, veteran’s needs and education across the world.

He has also held staff positions at virtually every level including: a Division Chief in the Joint Special Operations command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, The installation Management Command (IMCOM), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, for all Army bases World-wide and culminated his career in a 4-Star Headquarters (AFRICOM). Throughout his career he has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the toughest environments. General Gordon-Bray was a direct contributor to the War in Iraq where he fought and provided unique insights about transitioning. During the surge of 2007, as Principal Advisor to the Iraqi Ground Forces Commander, he aided in transforming 35,000 Iraqis into a force of 300,000 with 6 Divisions capable of functioning independently. Gordon-Bray had direct responsibility for

training and mentoring Lieutenant General Ali, who later became the longest tenured military leader in the new Iraqi Army. In addition to conventional concepts of warfighting, General Gordon-Bray was vital in providing initial thoughts on AFRICOM operations and end-state for Odyssey Dawn—the first large-scale regional operation for AFRICOM. A broad thinker, his strategic input and leadership skills were routinely employed in establishing US relationships with African Leaders and US State Department personnel, often operating at the behest of other Directorates or the Combatant Commander.

General Gordon-Bray is also a leader with expert skills in modernization and experimentation. As a Colonel, he developed and led the Army’s Experimentation Community of Practice, a diverse team of over 1000 operators, experimenters and innovative developers. He also led, managed, resourced and synchronized over 100 Joint and Army experiments involving thousands of participants that ultimately developed and refined the modular Army and its current successor.

Education: Master of Arts, National Security & Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Rhode Island Master of Science, International Strategic Studies, Air War College, Alabama Bachelor of Science, Art, University of Central Missouri. Additionally, He holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from North Carolina Wesleyan College. A life-long learner, he has executive training from the Keenan Business School at the University of NC, Chapel Hill and Administrative Management from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Awards & Qualifications: He is a qualified Master Parachutist and Army Ranger with numerous other badges and awards including: the Army Defense Meritorious Service Medal (The Army’s highest peacetime award) the Defense Superior Service Medal, (3) Legions of Merit, (7) Meritorious Service Medals and two bronze stars. He is a certified Instructor and Holds a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma.

Colonel K. Chad Mixon

Colonel K. “Chad” Mixon began his military career in January 1993 as an enlisted infantryman in the 1-325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg. NC. In May 2000, he was commissioned as a transportation officer through the Campbell University Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program.

Col. Mixon served in a variety of key leadership positions, including Supply and Services Troop Commander, Squadron Operations Officer, and Squadron Executive Officer in the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), and then as a Logistics Operations Officer in the Deputy Chief of Staff, G4, at Headquarters, Forces Command (FORSCOM). In May 2016, Col. Mixon became the Professor of Military Science at the University of South Carolina (Gamecocks) and then returned to Fort Bragg, NC to serve as the 307th BSB Battalion Commander in 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Upon completing battalion command, Col. Mixon transitioned to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to serve as the J4 Chief of Operations. Col. Mixon’s seven operational deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism include Operation Iraqi Freedom (4), Operation Enduring Freedom (2), and Operation Inherent Resolve (1). Col. Mixon’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the NATO Medal. He has earned the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Expert Infantryman’s Badge. Additionally, he is authorized to wear the Canadian, Dutch, and German foreign jump wings. Col. Mixon holds master's degrees from The United States Army War College and North Dakota State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Col. Mixon is married with two children.