Rear Adm. Todd Whalen

President, Board of Inspection and Survey

21 April 2021

Rear Adm. Todd Whalen is a third-generation naval officer. He graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and received his commission via the Naval ROTC program.

He earned master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in naval architecture/marine engineering and civil/environmental engineering, completed the Navy’s nuclear power training program, and studied at the Joint Forces Staff College.
His operational assignments include 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).

He commanded USS Rodney M Davis (FFG 60), served as reactor officer on USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and commanded Destroyer Squadron 9, deploying as sea combat commander for Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. During his sea tours, he deployed extensively to the European, Central, and Pacific command areas of operation. 

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, Board of Inspection and Survey. He 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.