BIOGRAPHY Colonel Seaborn J. Whatley III serves as the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI) at Rome High School, located in Rome, GA. He teaches Aerospace Science. Colonel Whatley retired as the Division Chief for the Strategic Planning Division in the Directorate of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, IL. In this capacity, Col Whatley serves as the command’s focal point for Doctrine and Policy Development, Future Concept Development, Long Range Planning, International Affairs and the accomplishment of the Command’s Legislative Liaison function.
Colonel Whatley has held key positions at squadron, wing, major command, and Joint headquarters levels. Most recently, he was the Commander, 715th Air Mobility Operations Group, providing forward-deployed command and control, aerial port, and aircraft maintenance support throughout the Pacific theater. He is a master navigator with over 2,700 hours in both the KC-135R and C-141B. During his career he has participated in various operations and exercises to include Operations DESERT CALM, PROVIDE COMFORT, RESTORE HOPE, DENY FLIGHT, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1999 Master of Military Arts and Sciences degree, American Military University, Manassas, Va.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
February 1990 - September 1991, Student Navigator, Mather Air Force Base, California
September 1991 - November 1991, Student, KC-135 Combat Crew Training Course, Castle Air Force Base, California
November 1991 - June 1993, KC-135R Navigator, 42nd Air Refueling Squadron, Loring Air Force Base, Maine
June 1993 - June 1996, KC-135R Instructor & Evaluator Navigator, 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
June 1996 - February 1997, Wing Tactics Officer, later, Chief, Group Conventional Operations, 19th Operations Support Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
February 1997 - January 1999, C-141 Wing Airdrop Navigator, later, Chief of Navigator Training and Scheduling, Lead Airdrop Navigator, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
January 1999 - December 1999, Operations Group Executive Officer, Special Operations Low Level (SOLL II) Navigator, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
December 1999 - August 2000, Wing Executive Officer, Special Operations Low Level (SOLL II) Evaluator Navigator, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
August 2000 - August 2003, En Route System Plans and Policy Officer and later, Executive Officer, Directorate of Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
August 2003 - July 2004, Intermediate Developmental Education Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
July 2004 - June 2006, Exercise Planning Officer, Exercise and Training Division, Allied Air Component Command Headquarters Ramstein (NATO), Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany
June 2006 - June 2007, Operations Officer, 723d Air Mobility Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
June 2007 - June 2009, Commander, 727th Air Mobility Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England
June 2009 - June 2010, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
June 2010 - July 2012, Chief, Mobility Division, Directorate of Logistics and Engineering, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
July 2012 - July 2013, Deputy Director, Directorate of Logistics and Engineering, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
July 2013 - June 2014, Chief, Deployment and Distribution Operations Center, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters United States Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
June 2014 – July 2016, Commander, 715th Air Mobility Operations Group, Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson, Alaska
July 2016 - September 2017, Chief, Long Range Planning Division, Directorate of Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
2017 - Retired
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,700
Aircraft KC-135R, C-141B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster