Capt. Todd Whalen
Chief of Staff, Naval Surface Force Alantic
13 April 2021
Captain Todd Whalen is a third-generation naval officer and a native of Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He holds master’s degrees in naval architecture and environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, completed the Navy’s nuclear power training program, and studied at the Joint Forces Staff College.
A surface warfare officer, he has deployed on eight ships to the Atlantic, Western Pacific, and Indian Oceans; Arabian Gulf; Horn of Africa; and Mediterranean Sea. 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), executive officer on USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), commanding officer on USS Rodney M Davis (FFG 60), and reactor officer on USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Ashore, he served as officer-in-charge of Commander Naval Air Forces Maintenance Training Group in Yokosuka, Japan and an operations research analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation.
Most recently, he commanded Destroyer Squadron Nine, deploying as the sea combat commander for Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf.
His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal. 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.