Lieutenant Colonel Whitesel hails from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and attended Officer Candidates School through the Platoon Leaders Class during the summers of 2006 and 2007. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Temple University in June 2008. Following graduation from The Basic School he transferred to begin flight training in Pensacola, Florida.
While there, Lieutenant Whitesel attended the Aviation Maintenance Officer Course at Whiting Field. Lieutenant Whitesel completed flight training by conducting carrier qualification aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). Captain Whitesel subsequently completed the F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron syllabus at VFA-106 by conducting carrier qualification again aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). Upon graduation, Captain Whitesel received orders to the "Thunderbolts" of VMFA-251 in Beaufort, South Carolina in the summer of 2013.
While a "Thunderbolt", Captain Whitesel served as a Schedules Officer, Logistics Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and Landing Signals Officer. Captain Whitesel completed a full set of work-ups and a combat deployment with VMFA-251, attached to Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1), aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The "Thunderbolts" and CVW-1 flew in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Iraq and Syria.
Upon return from cruise, Captain Whitesel attended Tactical Air Control Party School, and transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in the summer of 2016. Captain Whitesel reported to Second Reconnaissance Battalion, and served as the Force Reconnaissance Company Air Officer until the summer of 2017. Captain Whitesel then transferred back to Beaufort, South Carolina for duty with the "Silver Eagles" of VMFA-115.
While a "Silver Eagle", Captain Whitesel served as the Director of Safety and Standardization and Adjutant. The “Silver Eagles” supported an Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) for pre-deployment work-up, and deployed to Sheikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain in April of 2018. Major Whitesel and the "Silver Eagles" flew in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Iraq and Syria. Major Whitesel was selected for F-35B conversion, and returned to Beaufort for training at the "Warlords" of VMFAT-501 in September of 2018.
While at VMFAT-501, Major Whitesel completed the F-35B conversion syllabus and Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor (FRSI) syllabus prior to beginning duty as an FRSI. Major Whitesel served as the Logistics, ALIMS, and Communications Officer, Powerline Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. During this tour, he contributed to the training of over 150 F-35 pilots.
Major Whitesel then transferred to Iwakuni, Japan for duty with the "Green Knights" of VMFA-121 in the summer of 2022. Upon arrival, Major Whitesel returned immediately to the states to attend the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course and graduated with Class 1-23. As a "Green Knight", Lieutenant Colonel Whitesel served as the Executive Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and Detachment Officer in Charge for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) 24.1 Patrol. Lieutenant Colonel Whitesel then transferred back to Beaufort, SC in order to assume command of VMFAT-501 in the summer of 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Whitesel has accrued over 1,900 flight hours, 280 combat hours, and 160 landings on CVN and LHA class ships. He is married to the former Nora Harris of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and they have four sons together named Collin James, Caleb Monitor, Charles Richard, and Clark William.