Mitchell Johnson

BISMARCK – Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson has been named to serve as the next adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard and director of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, effective Sept. 15.

Gov. Doug Burgum selected Johnson to succeed Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, who will retire after nearly nine years as adjutant general and more than 40 years of military service.

As adjutant general, Johnson will lead the N.D. National Guard, which has about 4,200 service members and facilities in 13 communities, while also continuing to maintain strong relationships with the Air Force bases in Grand Forks and Minot.

“I look forward to serving the citizens of North Dakota and building on Maj. Gen. Dohrmann’s outstanding record of leadership, knowing that our National Guard soldiers and airmen and Department of Emergency Services personnel are highly capable, well-trained and well-prepared for any challenge that comes our way,” Johnson said.

Johnson most recently served as commander of the Fargo-based 119th Wing of the N.D. Air National Guard from March 2021 to January 2024, where he led nearly 1,200 personnel whose missions include flying MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, providing intelligence and targeting, accomplishing expeditionary support functions and ensuring missile field security at Minot Air Force Base. He previously served as vice commander of the wing, nicknamed the “Happy Hooligans,” from August 2018-March 2021 and in various other command and flying roles in Fargo, Florida, Oklahoma and Arkansas since 1998.