February Luncheon: RADM Mark R. Whitney Speaks to VSRA Membership

The February General Membership Meeting was held on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel. RADM Mark R. Whitney, Director, Fleet Maintenance, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, was the meeting's guest speaker.

RADM Whitney discussed the Navy's recent Comprehensive Review of Surface Force Incidents, and strongly recommended that everyone read the review report. Whitney spoke on the Comprehensive Review's main points for improvement, including fundamentals, team building, operational assessment, and culture. RADM Whitney then said that, "delivering an availability late is the same as a collision," pointing out the consequences of late delivery from maintenance that restricts training and other fundamentals necessary for a ship to go underway.

Responding to an audience question, RADM Whitney also spoke passionately about the need to ensure Sailors are self-sufficient in a contested environment while underway. Whitney discussed the overall objective to make sure that Sailors have the tools, training, and resources necessary to act as afloat maintenance teams when needed.

Rear Adm. Mark Whitney is a native of South Portland, Maine. He entered the Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Maine Maritime Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering in 1984.

He received his surface warfare officer qualification aboard USS Luce (DDG 38). He became an engineering duty officer and attended the Naval Postgraduate School. In 1994, he earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and was the recipient of the Naval Postgraduate School Superior Service Award.

His engineering duty tours include: naval reactors representative assistant at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Reactors Representative’s Office; assistant project officer at Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair Newport News; deputy project superintendent at Norfolk Naval Shipyard; chief engineer aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), completing a combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; section head at Surface Ship Maintenance and Modernization for Director, Surface Warfare on the staff of the chief of naval operations; aircraft carrier requirements officer for Director, Air Warfare on the staff of the chief of naval operations; operations officer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility; assistant deputy commander for Industrial Operations at Naval Sea Systems Command; and the 47th commander of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility. Whitney reported as the deputy commander, Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations, Naval Sea Systems Command in June 2012.

Whitney assumed his current duties as director, Fleet Maintenance, U.S. Fleet Forces Command in June 2016.  

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with (four Gold Stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, the Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star.

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