Douglas F. Whalen

Douglas F. Whalen CAPT, USN (Ret.) August 2, 1950 – March 8, 2014 Doug was born in Detroit, Michigan to Ray and Laura (McCoy) Whalen and graduated from Okemos High School in 1968. After high school, Doug started college at Michigan State University, but Uncle Sam offered Doug an all-expense paid trip, wardrobe included, to tour the jungles of Vietnam. While in the Army, Doug was a Huey M60 gunner. After discharge, Doug worked in a drop forge putting on the left front fender well on Oldsmobiles while going to Michigan State and completing his history degree. Doug was in the Army Reserve during this period. After college Doug realized he enjoyed military life. However, it would be great if people weren’t shooting at him and he didn't have to live in a tent. Life on a ship with his stereo, a TV and a real bed appealed to Doug. So, he went off to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in 1977. He then enjoyed a wonderful and rewarding Naval career. Doug’s sea assignments included Engineer Officer, USS IMPLICIT (MSO-455); commissioning Main Propulsion Assistant, USS CALLAHAN (DDG-994); Engineer Officer, USS ROARK (FF-1053); Engineer Officer, USS MOUNT VERNON (LSD-39); interim Main Propulsion Assistant, USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62); Executive officer, USS MOUNT VERNON (LSD-39); Commanding Officer, USS COMSTOCK (LSD-45); and Executive Officer, USS ESSEX (LHD-2). His shore assignments included Engineering Readiness for Commander, Naval Surface Group Long Beach, CA (collateral assignment as Officer in Charge, Pre Commissioning Detachment INGRAHAM); Readiness Officer, CINCLANTFLT Detachment South, Fort Amador, Panama; Executive Officer, Assault Craft Unit Five; Student, National War College (obtained an MS in National Security Strategy with Information Strategies Concentration); Chief, Actions Division, Joint Staff; and Secretary, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Doug retired from the Navy in 2000. He began his civilian life at EDS where he was the Initial Claimant Manager for the Navy Marine Corps Intranet project for Naval Sea Systems Command and the Military Sealift Command. In 2002, he began working for Anteon Corporation (now Alion Science and Technology) as a program manager, where he supported the development of the SHIPMAIN initiative. Upon his departure, Doug was a Division Manager/Assistant Vice President responsible for the PEOSHIPS Professional Support Omnibus Contract. While Doug enjoyed life as a civilian, he couldn’t stay away from the Navy for long. In 2008, Doug began working for the Department of the Navy as Deputy, N11 Civilian Workforce Analysis Division (N11B), and was designated Director in October 2009. In December 2010, Doug transferred to SEA 21 (SWE Support). While there, Doug managed and led the Surface Warfare Enterprise under The Program Executive Office of Ships to provide support for the Surface Ship sustainment initiatives for combat operations at sea. He provided top leadership, to include the Chief of Naval Operations, with guidance for readiness and maintenance to ensure the Combatant Commander Warfighting Requirements of all Surface Warships were sustained. Doug was a certified Project Management Professional and earned the Department of the Navy Acquisition Program Management Level 3. Doug also was a member of the Board for Correction of Naval Records. Doug was a devoted and loving husband and father. In 1986, he married his sweetheart, Tish Wirth. Doug was extremely proud of their two children, Laura and Matthew Whalen. The family has lived in Springfield, VA since 1998. Doug also is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Marge and Dan Connors, of Jamul, CA; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Sue Wirth of Ada, MI; and nieces and nephews, Michael Connors of Jamul, CA; Kat and Brandon Coburn of Caledonia, MI; and Andy Wirth of Ada, MI. Doug lived his life to the fullest every day. He loved playing racquetball and running (he ran about eight marathons). He loved being near water and enjoyed scuba diving, sailing, and canoeing. Doug was a Shotokan karate black belt. He played ice hockey on the Dirty Dozen for many years and was team captain at his death. Doug was very passionate about motorcycle riding and shared his love for riding as a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Coach. Doug particularly enjoyed spending time with his kids, and the neighbor kids, rollerblading and riding bicycles. He looked forward to his daily walks with his dog, Roxy, and playing with the other dogs in the neighborhood. The biggest joy of Doug’s life was spending time with his family and friends! Interment Doug’s interment is Friday, August 15, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. Please arrive at the Administration Building in Arlington National Cemetery by 2:30 p.m. To get to the Administration Building, drive past the sign for Welcome Center parking and stay to the right on Memorial Avenue to bypass any barriers. Turn left onto Eisenhower Drive and left onto King Drive to enter the parking lot. If you are stopped by a security person, tell him/her you are there for the Whalen interment. Promptly at 3:00 p.m. we will be told to get our vehicles and where to line up. (Motorcycles are allowed in the cemetery and should be allowed in the procession.) We will drive to the caisson where everyone will assemble for the transfer ceremony. Once that ceremony is complete, those who would like may follow the caisson and walk to the gravesite. All vehicles must move on to the gravesite. If you would like to walk, please think about carpooling or arrangements to move your vehicle in advance. There will be a reception immediately following at the Fort Myer Officers’ Club on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, 214 Jackson Avenue (BLDG 214), Fort Myer, Virginia with light refreshments. The reception will be upstairs in the Abrams and Chaffee Rooms until 6:00 p.m. There are two parking lots by the Officers’ Club. For those who are unable to make the ceremony, please come to the reception if you can. Memorial Contributions If you would like to memorialize Doug’s life, the family suggests a donation to Operation Heal Our Patriots, a project of the Samaritan’s Purse organization. Rev. James R. Fisher, CAPT, CHC, USN (Ret.), a dear friend of the family since Doug was Executive Officer of USS ESSEX almost 20 years ago, is the Supervisory Chaplain for Samaritan’s Purse. You can mail donations to Operation Heal Our Patriots, Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000, or donate online at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/gift-catalog/?page=gift-catalog §ion=operation-heal-our-patriots#social-sort.