Local Hero Receives Bronze Star
Story Based on Material Provided by SrA Angela Bergesen Photos by MSgt Jeff Myers - Posted Nov, 2005
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As the Director of the CASCC Lt Col Whitmore controlled all offensive airpower flying in support of forces in the region to include the Combined and Joint Task Force 76, the International Security Assistance Force and a United States Central Command directed Special Operations Task Force.
No stranger to positions of high responsibility Lt Col Scott Whitmore has had a long and distinguished career with experiences ranging from jet fighter pilot through assignments supporting Army units such as the 82nd Airborne Division and the Special Forces to flying combat missions during Desert Storm to his to his current assignment as Detachment Commander and squadron Vice Commander of the 111th Air Support Operations Center Squadron.
Lt Col Scott Whitmore was commissioned through ROTC in 1983 after graduating from Weber State College in Ogden Utah. His first assignment in the Air Force was to attend undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force base located in Del Rio, Texas.
Upon graduation Lt Col Whitmore trained as a Forward Air Controller and was assigned to Shaw Air Force Base to fly the O-2A Sky Master. While in the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, Lieutenant Whitmore also performed battalion Air Liaison Officer duties supporting Army cavalry squadrons, mechanized infantry battalions, and a US armor battalion located in Germany. After attending the Army basic parachutist school he supported the 82nd Airborne stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
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Lt Col Whitmore was then assigned to Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas where he flew the RF-4 Phantom II. During this assignment Lt Col Whitmore flew 39 combat missions over Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm.
In Desert Storm, Lt Col Whitmore was upgraded to flight lead during combat missions.
In June of 1991 Lt Col Whitmore was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Fort Lewis Washington, as a Battalion Air Liaison Officer. During this assignment Lt Col Whitmore was instrumental in the standardization and implementation of night close air support procedures and terminology used to employ night vision goggles and infrared marking equipment.
He also completed jumpmaster school through the 1st Special Forces Group located at Fort Lewis, Washington and earned the rating of Senior Parachutist. Lt Col Whitmore then retrained to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II. His squadron was deployed to Kuwait, and was a member of the first Air Force fighter squadron to employ fighter aircraft in a combat zone using night vision goggles. In two deployments to Kuwait, Lt Col Whitmore flew 60 combat support missions over Iraq during Operation Southern Watch. In May of 1996 Lt Col Whitmore was again assigned to Fort Lewis WA, this time to the 5th Air Support Operations Squadron as the Operations Officer.
Lt Col Whitmore separated from active duty in January of 1998 and immediately joined the Washington Air National Guard with the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron. There he served as the Chief of Standardization and Evaluation and then the Operations 0fficer through September 2002. Later he served as the Operations Officer for the Washington National Guard Counter Drug Task Force which augmented and supported local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in the fight against illegal drugs.
Lt Col Whitmore was then assigned to the 111th Air Support Operations Center Squadron where he is currently the Detachment Commander and squadron Vice Commander. Recently, Lt Col Whitmore led the squadron to Afghanistan in its first ever combat deployment to function as the Expeditionary Air Support Operations Center. Responsibilities and functions included coordinating and integrating all US and Allied fighter and bomber aircraft into Army and Marine operations.
Lt Col Whitmore's Bronze Star Medal Citation reads:
"Lieutenant Colonel Scott G. Whitmore distinguished himself by meritorious achievement as the Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Air Support Operations Center Director while engaged in ground operations against the enemy from 13 June 2004 through 18 September 2004.
During this period, Colonel Whitmore led a team of 22 operations, communications and logistics specialists to form the Operation ENDURING FREEDOM close air support command center, which included an organic secure communications reach-back capability to the Combined Air Operations Center.
As the director, he controlled all offensive airpower flying in support of forces to include the Combined and Joint Task Force 76, the International Security Assistance Force and a United States Central Command directed Special Operations Task Force. He superbly integrated over 1400 sorties with over 1500 air support requests ensuring timely and effective airpower effects were achieved based upon the dynamics of the battle space.
The Bronze Star |
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Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. |
On many occasions, he directed airpower to units that were taking enemy fire. In July 2004, an embedded tactical training team was ambushed. Colonel Whitmore quickly redirected aircraft to the fighting. He then directed the Fighter Duty Officer to launch the ground alert aircraft and reposition an aerial refueling tanker to extend air coverage over the friendly forces. His quick and decisive actions ensured airpower responded with effective fire, forcing the enemy to cease-fire and withdraw, and saving the lives of the team.
Events like these occurred almost daily and Colonel Whitmores actions saved coalition lives and directly contributed to the destruction of terrorist networks. The exemplary leadership, personal endeavor, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Whitmore in this responsible position reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force."
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