Lonnie Mitchell, Metro's new chief operating officer.

Metro CEO Art Leahy announced today that Lonnie Mitchell has been hired as Metro’s chief operating officer.

Mitchell has been serving in that role since December. “Lonnie performed exceptionally well during that time period,” Leahy wrote in a memo to Metro staff. “I look forward to him working quickly to solidify operations, improve performance and help make Metro the world class operation I know it can be.”

As COO, Mitchell oversees bus and rail operations with an annual operating budget of $1.48 billion  and nearly 7,500 employees.

Here is Mitchell’s bio, as provided by Metro:

Lonnie Mitchell was appointed Executive Officer, Procurement and Material Management, in July 2000 after completing a 30-year career in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps. In December of 2006, Mitchell’s position was upgraded to Chief Administrative Services Officer, responsible for Procurement and Material Management, Administration, and Information Technology Services. In December 2009, he was appointed Interim Chief Operations Officer. Prior to joining the MTA, Mitchell was Vice Commander of the Navy Exchange Service Command in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was responsible for oversight of information systems, financial operations, contracting, human resources, training and planning for the Navy Exchange System, a $2 billion worldwide retail and services operation.

Mitchell is a 1969 graduate of Washington State University, where he earned a BA in Economics. He earned a Masters in Acquisition Management at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.