Kenneth Whitesell, VADM, USN(ret.) Joins Project Recover Board of Directors

Project Recover is pleased to announce the appointment of its newest board member, Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, United States Navy retired.

Kenneth’s introduction to and journey toward this unique organization began over Memorial Day weekend, 2023, when Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial chose to honor and memorialize former MIA, Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Walter Mintus. As then the Commander of the Naval Air Forces, he was invited to share the podium with Project Recover’s Pat Scannon. As part of his preparation, he watched the documentary “To What Remains”. He felt an immediate connection with the Project Recover mission, our dedication to the promise of “no man left behind” and the immense effort executed to return the remains of those still missing to their families. 

Kenneth is very proud and quite humbled to join the Project Recover team.  

We stand on the shoulders of giants who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation, and there is no higher calling than Project Recover’s mission to bring them home.

Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, United States Navy retired

Having recently retired as the Navy’s 9th “Air Boss”, Kenneth will bring a unique perspective to the Project Recover leadership board. “It was the rise of carrier air power that enabled the westward march across the Pacific. From the tide-turning battle at Midway to the Mariannas Turkey Shoot, aviation has played a crucial role toward ensuring our way of life and the freedom’s that we all enjoy. The example of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), led by Lieutenant Commander John Waldon, is but one of the stories that drives my support of, and dedication to Project Recover.  VT-8 lost twenty-nine pilots and aircrew on June 4th 1942 at Midway. These heroes, and the countless number of service personnel that remain missing in action or unaccounted for, continue to be the “siren song” for Project Recover,” says Kenneth.

Project Recover is thrilled to have Admiral Whitesell join our ranks. His leadership and contributions to our mission are a force multiplier which will result in locating and repatriating more missing Americans while providing healing to families and communities across our Nation.

Derek Abbey, Ph.D., Project Recover President and CEO