Wilhite earns Meritorious Service Medal following successful tour

  • Published
  • By Bradley Hicks
  • AEDC/PA
Cmdr. David Wilhite, the Arnold Air Force Base Simplified Acquisition Base Engineering Requirements program manager, was recently recognized for his achievements upon completing a two-year tour as Commanding Officer of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14 (NMCB-14), a Reserve Navy Seabee Battalion located at 12 Detachments throughout the Southeast, including a Detachment in Puerto Rico, and headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Wilhite was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) from Rear Admiral B.J. Brakke, commander of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, during a Nov. 4 Change of Command ceremony at Gulfport. Wilhite’s MSM was presented by Capt. Christopher Asselta, commander of the 7th Naval Construction Regiment, Gulfport, Mississippi.

The MSM was awarded to Wilhite for his performance as Commanding Officer of the NMCB-14, a role he assumed on Nov. 5, 2015. Wilhite led 554 total personnel made up of 17 active-duty military and 537 Navy Reservists.

“It was a great pleasure to have served and led all the outstanding men and women of NMCB-14 – the Headquarters Staff, Executive Officer, Command Master Chief Petty Officers, Wardroom, Chief’s Mess and E-6s (Petty Officers, First Class) on down,” Wilhite said. “Without their leadership, dedication and expertise, we would not have successfully executed our daunting tasking over the past two years, and for that I am truly grateful. I cannot thank them enough. Whatever successes I have achieved throughout my command tour are a credit to all of them.”

The battalion’s performance during Wilhite’s tour included the deployment of 204 Seabees in 2017 to 20 geographically dispersed detachment sites in Afghanistan, Africa and the Middle East.

“It was a very busy, stressful and exciting two years,” Wilhite said. “It went by very quick.”

The MSM summary of action recommending Wilhite for the award stated his performance as Commanding Officer of the NMCB-14 was “nothing short of phenomenal.”

“He instilled an attitude of servant leadership and reinforced the idea of sustained superior performance during his tenure,” the summary read. “His efforts over this period have substantially raised the bar for exceptional performance but, more importantly, have dramatically improved the communications and relationships between the junior enlisted, the Chief’s Mess and the Wardroom. His leadership, vision, persistence and sound counsel ensured successful mission execution, readiness training, safety and troop wellness. His significant achievements merit award of the Meritorious Service Medal.”

Along with the NMCB-14 personnel, Wilhite also expressed his appreciation to the Civil Engineering Branch leadership at Arnold Air Force Base - John Laviolette, Kris Hughes and Jim Tapp - for their understanding, support and flexibility with his schedule and travel.

“But my greatest thanks goes to my wife Carol,” Wilhite said. “I know that without her, I would not have successfully completed my command tour. She is the foundation of support, the steady anchor for our family, and a wonderful wife and mother.”