Kenneth R. Whitesell

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Kenneth R. Whitesell
Born (1961-07-19) July 19, 1961 (age 62)
Stuarts Draft, Virginia, United States
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1985–present
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldNaval Air Forces
Carrier Strike Group 2
Carrier Air Wing One
VFA-41
Battles/warsGulf War
Iraq War
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)
Alma materOld Dominion University
Joint Forces Staff College
Naval War College

Kenneth Ray Whitesell[1] (born July 19, 1961) is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy, and the past Commander, Naval Air Forces.[2] He retired on September 7, 2023.[3]

Education

Whitesell grew up in Stuarts Draft, Virginia. He graduated from Old Dominion University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.[4] He is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College and the Naval War College, where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.[4]

Naval career

Whitesell became a Naval Flight Officer in the United States Navy, being commissioned at Officer Candidate School in February 1985 and earning his Naval Aviator Insignia in October 1986. He graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School and flew the F-14 Tomcat and, later, the F/A-18 Super Hornet. He has over 4,000 flight hours. [2]

His operational assignments have been:

Whitesell has participated in Operations Desert Shield, Southern Watch, Deliberate Guard/Allied Force, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve.[4]

Overseas assignments ashore:

Commands

Christopher McQuarrie, Whitesell, Tom Cruise, Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer for the global premiere of Top Gun: Maverick.

Whitesell has served as commander of:

Awards and decorations

Naval flight officer
Command at Sea insignia
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Gold star
Meritorious Service Medal with award star
Air Medal with bronze Strike/Flight numeral "1"
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars
Gold star
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation
Bronze star
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
Bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Silver star
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

References

  1. ^ "PN1785 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 1994-09-28. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  2. ^ a b Vice Adm. Whitesell becomes Navy’s new Air Boss, Diana Stancy Correll, NavyTimes.com, 2020-10-05
  3. ^ LaGrone, Sam (2023-08-25). "Acting Commanders Set to Take Charge of Naval Academy, Naval Air Forces and NAVSEA". USNI News. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Kenneth Whitesell (biography), US Navy, 2020-10-05, accessed 2020-10-06
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Carrier Strike Group 2
2016–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Carrier Strike Group 4
2017–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet
2019–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Naval Air Forces and Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
2020–2023
Succeeded by

External links