Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Robert Whitmore

Cmdr. Robert Whitmore, a native of Norwalk, Iowa, commissioned in 2003 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. He graduated from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He holds a Master of Arts in Homeland Security from American Military University. He was designated as a naval flight officer (NFO) in Aug. 2005 after his completion of NFO flight training at the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 120 in Norfolk, Virginia.

Whitmore reported in January 2006 to VAW-123, the “Screwtops,” in Norfolk, Virginia, where he completed two deployments onboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In 2009 he reported as a weapons and tactics instructor (WTI) to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS) in Fallon, Nevada where he worked in the transformation division. In 2012 he reported to VAW-121, the “Bluetails,” as the training officer, where he deployed twice aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2014, Whitmore served as admiral’s aide to the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) in Norfolk, Virginia. After selecting for department head, he joined VAW-125, the “Tigertails,” also in Norfolk, Virginia. While with the “Tigertails,” he deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and served as the administrative officer. VAW-125 then executed a homeport change to Iwakuni, Japan under Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 onboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during which time he held the positions of maintenance officer and operations officer. Post department head tour, Whitmore held the billet of placement officer for the VAW, VRC, VUQ, VRM and VT-J communities at Navy Personnel Command (PERS-43) in Millington, Tennessee.

Whitmore has amassed over 2,000 E-2 flight hours and awards include Strike Flight Air Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and various other medals and ribbons.