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Position: Coast Guard Base Kodiak comptroller
Specialty: Aviation and finance
Time in service: 18 Years
Career highlights: Cmdr. Whalen completed Officer Candidate School in June 2005. She served on a Polar Ice Breaker and MH-65 helicopters where she had the privilege to provide air security for the President of the United States and just completed her tour as Base Kodiak’s comptroller and operations department head. She is transferring from Kodiak to serve as the first female Operations Officer for MH-65 flight operations at Coast Guard Sector North Bend. She holds Master’s degrees in accounting and business administration from University of Oregon and a Master’s in occupational safety management.
Inspiration: Cmdr. Whalen had the honor of sitting down with Vice Adm. Vivien Crea when she was selected for flight school in 2007. Crea served as the 25th Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard and was the first female to assume this position. She was also a pioneer for women in Coast Guard aviation and shared her love for aviation because it was an equalizer. The helicopter doesn’t care if you are a man or a women; either you had the skills and could meet the standard or you don’t.
Cmdr. Whalen’s words of wisdom: “I have been fortunate throughout my career to have been encouraged and supported by others to go after any position I have set my sights on,” said Whalen. “Unfortunately, sometimes we are our own biggest critic and naysayer. My most significant challenge has been learning to have the confidence in myself, knowing that I have the ability, knowledge, work ethic, and skills to accomplish anything I set my mind to. Keep dreaming big and never settle because you don’t think you are good enough or qualified enough.”
Career goal: To one day be the commanding officer of an Air Station.
- U.S. Coast Guard photo by Cmdr. Jess Johnson
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 07.16.2021 16:48 |
| Photo ID: | 6736532 |
| VIRIN: | 210716-G-G0271-797 |
| Resolution: | 408x408 |
| Size: | 74.56 KB |
| Location: | KODIAK, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
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