Captain Brian Whitten
Captain Brian Whitten
Captain Brian “Stitch” Whitten was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on July 7, 1963 son of Robert and Phyllis Whitten. Interested in aviation from an early age, he began taking flight lessons as a teenager while flying a two-place Stinson taildragger at Moorhead Airpark. He graduated from North East High School in 1981 where he was a standout student and athlete, including five State Championship medals in track. Brian went on to compete for the track team at Cornell University, becoming a 3-time Ivy League team champion, and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources.
Intent to pursue his flying career further, he entered the United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate School, finishing second in his class, and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1987. He promptly commenced flight training at Training Squadron Ten (VT-10 Wildcats), Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, and was ultimately designated a Naval Flight Officer in June 1988 at Naval Air Training Unit, Mather Air Force Base, Sacramento, California.
During the course of a twenty-eight year naval career flying primarily the P-3C patrol plane aircraft, Captain Whitten attained flight designations to include Mission Commander, Tactical Coordinator Instructor, and Fleet Weapons Tactics Instructor. His operational flying tours included assignments to Patrol Squadron FOUR (VP-4 Skinny Dragons), Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, and Patrol Squadron FORTY (VP-40 Fighting Marlins), Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. He completed five deployments to various sites in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans regions and flew twenty-two combat strikes and combat support missions during Operation DESERT STORM. He was Commanding Officer of Training Squadron TEN (VT-10 Wildcats), Pensacola, Florida, from July 2006 to May 2008 where he was entrusted as the lead instructor for all aspiring flight officers during their initial basic and intermediate flight training. During his tenure, Captain Whitten personally presented 316 young men and women their “Wings” designation, and allowed them to proceed to advanced flight training and further military flying careers. Captain Whitten has over 3,100 flying hours in numerous airframes to include the P-3C, T-1, T-6, T-34, EA-6, S-3, F/A-18, F-15, and T-38.
Captain Whitten’s staff tours included assignment to the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Nimitz Tactical Action Officer, Bremerton, Washington; Patrol Wing TEN Weapons System Trainer, Officer-in-Charge, NAS Whidbey Island; Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Flight Training Requirements Officer, Pentagon; and Executive Officer to the Deputy Commander for Military Operations at U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany. He also completed a Master of Science degree in Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy Air Medal (First Strike), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), and various unit awards and campaign medals.
Erie International Airport is of special significance to Captain Whitten. His first impressions of aviation were made from an attic bedroom window that overlooked its runways at his home at 4642 West Lake Road. He recalls the countless hours spent with this sister, Pam (Morton), nearly hanging out of the window, mostly after bedtime, and being incredibly excited by the activity of the airport’s operations. Without a doubt, those initial observations developed an interest that was pursued and resulted in a successful career.
Captain Whitten is married to Karen Margaret Ruska of Dunkirk, New York. They reside in Stuttgart-Weilimdorf, Germany, with their son, Colin, and daughters Morgan and Erin.