Presenter Biography: Lt. Kenny Mitchell Jr (ret) began his fire service career in 2002 with The Virginia Beach Fire Department. Kenny was assigned to Fire Station 4 and served on the MIRT (Marine Incident Response Team) his entire time with VBFD. In 2007 he relocated to Chesterfield, Virginia where he was employed with Chesterfield County Fire & EMS until April 1, 2024, when he retired as a Lieutenant after nearly 23 years.

Kenny served in a variety of assignments during his time with Chesterfield County Fire & EMS including some time as a lead instructor in the Training Division, a member of the MIRT (Marine Incident Response Team), an active member of the Peer Support Team since 2009, the department interview panel having assisted in hiring hundreds of new firefighters and serving as the departments Public Information Officer during his time in the Fire & Life Safety Division.

Kenny has developed a deep appreciation and sympathy for the mental health challenges that so many humans, especially those who have served in the protector community, endure. His ability to place you into the moment of the worst personal life knockdown him and his seven-year-old daughter would face and the seven-year journey he had to go on to find himself and his new purpose is powerful. Kenny then takes you further through his fire service career and the loss of a close friend just seventeen days after meeting for lunch from suicide in 2020 that birthed Operation Yellow Tape.

His newfound purpose of helping first responders and their families overcome the invisible wounds of traumatic careers inside and outside the yellow tape will leave you wanting to take proactive action in your life immediately. Kenny is passionate about, and continues to advocate for, first responders who have experienced and are struggling with their own cumulative traumatic stress, critical incidents, family issues, and PTSI. He has spoken at several conferences and organizations across the country, along with numerous podcast appearances and has his own Operation Yellow Tape Podcast assisting thousands inside and outside the yellow tape monthly. Most recently spending two full days presenting in Wisconsin at the United for Waukesha Resiliency Center teaching mental health wellbeing for those affected by the November 21, 2021, Waukesha Christmas Day Parade Incident. Honored to have spoken in Port Orange, Florida on April 19th during their Operation Frontline Resilience Conference for Speak up; Tomorrow needs you and last week in Kentucky on May 5th as the keynote for the 2025 Tactical Tools for Thriving First Responders Mental Health Symposium.

We are going to drive home and continue to live by, "There are too many of us to ever feel alone!" Because WE ARE THE TOO MANY!