Kenneth R. Whitesell

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]

Kenneth R. Whitesell
Born	(1961-07-19) July 19, 1961 (age 64) Stuarts Draft, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1985–2023
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	Naval Air Forces Carrier Strike Group 2 Carrier Air Wing One VFA-41
Battles / wars	Gulf War Iraq War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (5)
Alma mater	Old Dominion University Joint Forces Staff College Naval War College

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 aboard the aircraft carriers:

• Fighter Squadron VF-142, aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Top Gun training officer and assistant operations officer with VF-74, aboard USS Saratoga
• VF-32, USS Theodore Roosevelt
• Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-41, USS Nimitz^[4]

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

Overseas assignments ashore:

• Combined Air and Space Operations Center battle director, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
• Chief of staff and director, Maritime Operations Center, Commander, United States Navy Central Command/Commander, United States Fifth Fleet^[4]

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:

• Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-41, USS Nimitz
• Carrier Air Wing One aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise,
• Carrier Strike Group 2 aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush,
• Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR) and Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC).^[4]

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
	Meritorious Service Medal with award star
	Air Medal with bronze Strike/Flight numeral "1"
	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars
	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Navy Unit Commendation
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
	National Defense Service Medal with service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
	Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal