Mr. Whitehead serves as the Deputy Director for Command and Control Integration (DD C2I), within Directorate for Command, Control, Communications and Computers, Joint Staff, J6.
He supports and advises the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding Joint Command and Control requirements; interoperability of legacy and future Command and Control capabilities with Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance systems and joint warfighting systems; oversees the DoD requirements for Joint Fires, Joint Close Air Support and Combat Identification mission areas, and supports the development of accelerated joint warfighting capabilities through joint capability assessments, in order to achieve a coherent Joint Force.
Appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2007, he served as the Executive Director for the U.S. Joint Forces Command, Joint Capability Development Directorate (USJFCOM J8) and Assistant Deputy Director for Command and Control Integration, Joint Staff J8. Mr. Whitehead assumed his current position in April 2012.
Mr. Whitehead served on active duty from 1980 to 2007, in a variety of U.S. Army armor and cavalry command and staff assignments in Germany, Kuwait, Turkey and the United States, including tank company commander; doctrine writer and instructor; division plans officer; cavalry squadron commander; Chief of Contingency Operations, Kosovo Forces; J5, NATO Joint Command Southeast; and Director, US Army TRADOC Program Integration Office for Battle Command.
Additionally, Mr. Whitehead is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced Military Science and the US Army War College, Advanced Strategic Studies Program where he earned degrees in operational and strategic planning.
Mr. Whitehead graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1980, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree. Beyond two master’s degrees from military colleges, he also has a Master of Science Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.
Mr. Whitehead received several military awards for meritorious service, has been published in journals, and provided numerous presentations to scientific, management, and capability and material development forums. He is a recognized innovator and leader in implementing systems of systems engineering practices and bringing warfighter involvement to lifecycle management.