MAJOR GENERAL DAVID F. WHERLEY, JR.
Retired June 30, 2008
Deceased June 22, 2009
Commanding General, District of Columbia National Guard
Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., was the commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters, District of Columbia National Guard (JFHQ-DC). He was responsible for operational readiness and command and control of District of Columbia Army and Air National Guard units with an authorized strength of 3,200 soldiers and airmen.
The general began his military career in 1969 when he received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) from Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y. After he was released from active duty he joined the District of Columbia Air National Guard where he commanded two flying squadrons, served in a number of staff assignments and deployed as the deputy operations group commander for fighters at Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia. He was a Fighter Weapons Instructor Course graduate in the F-4 and has over 5,000 hours of flying time in a multitude of missions. Prior to appointment, he served as the commander, 113th Fighter Wing, Andrews Air Force Base where he was responsible for two flying missions, the 121st Fighter Squadron with F-16 C/D and the 201st Airlift Squadron with C-40 and C-38A aircraft.
EDUCATION:
1969 Bachelor of arts degree in economics, Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y.
1973 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1977 Masters of business administration, University of Maryland, College Park
1980 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1981 National Security Management Course
2002 CAPSTONE
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. September 1969 - September 1970, student, undergraduate pilot training, 3576th Student Squadron, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. September 1970 - October 1972, T-38 instructor pilot, 3553rd Pilot Training Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
3. October 1972 - October 1973, T-38 class commander, 3550th Student Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
4. October 1973 - September 1978, F-105 pilot, 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
5. September 1978 - June 1982, flight safety officer, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
6. June 1982 - June 1985, F-4 instructor pilot, 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
7. June 1985 - December 1985, operations officer, 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
8. December 1985 - July 1987, commander, 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
9. July 1987 - March 1989, director of operations, Headquarters, District of Columbia Air National Guard, Washington, D.C.
10. March 1989 - November 1995, commander, Detachment 1, Headquarters, District of Columbia Air National Guard /201st Airlift Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
11. November 1995 - December 1997, vice commander, 113th Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
12. January 1998 - April 1998, deputy commander for operations (fighters) 4404th Provisional Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia
13. May 1998 - June 2003, commander, 113th Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
14. July 2003 - June 2008, commanding general, District of Columbia National Guard, Washington, D.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 5,000
Aircraft flown: F-16, F-4, T -33, T -38, F - 105, C-21, C-22, C -38
Pilot wings from: Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one gold hourglass
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
District of Columbia National Guard Distinguished Service Medal
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
Director of the District of Columbia National Guard
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant Jun 4, 1969
First Lieutenant Mar 8, 1971
Captain Sep 8, 1972
Major Aug 13, 1978
Lieutenant Colonel Oct 30, 1983
Colonel Apr 8, 1989
Brigadier General Oct 10, 1998
Major General Oct 28, 2005
(Current as of June 2009)