Rear Admiral Todd Whalen is a third-generation naval officer from Virginia Beach. He graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned via the Navy ROTC program. He later earned master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in naval architecture/marine engineering and civil/environmental engineering.

A nuclear-trained surface warfare officer, his assignments at sea include tours as communications officer on USS Normandy (CG 60), machinery division officer on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), operations officer on USS Thorn (DD 988), reactor electrical assistant on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and executive officer on USS Gonzalez (DDG 66).

Whalen commanded USS Rodney M Davis (FFG 60), served as reactor officer on USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and commanded Destroyer Squadron 9. As Commodore, he led eight DDGs in four homeports and deployed as sea combat commander for Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.

Ashore, he served as officer in charge of Commander, Naval Air Forces Maintenance Training Group in Yokosuka, Japan and as an operations research analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation. Most recently, he served as Chief of Staff to Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

Whalen is the 70th President of the Board of Inspection and Survey and is responsible for assessing the material readiness of the Fleet.

He has earned various personal, unit, and campaign awards. He is a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, holds licensure as a professional engineer, and is a nationally certified youth soccer coach.

Last Updated: 8 January 2024