Retired Marine pilot to speak at Veterans Day program
Published 2:45 pm Thursday, November 7, 2024
Lt. Col (ret) George Judson (Jud) Whitlock, a former pilot of Marine One and Marine Two, will be the guest speaker for the 2024 Veterans Day ceremony.
Lt. Col. (ret.) George Judson “Jud” Whitlock
The ceremony is hosted by the City of Andalusia at the Covington Veterans Monument immediately following the Chamber of Commerce’s 10 a.m. Veterans Day parade.
Whitlock is a native of Memphis who was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis.
After completing The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Va., he reported to flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, where he was designated a naval aviator in 1977.
Whitlock spent 22 of the next 24 years in the cockpit, and accumulated 5,300 accident-free hours in eight different aircraft.
Highlights of his career included selection to command two squadrons, one a tactical, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462) at MCAS Tustin, CA, and one a training, Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301 (HMT-301) at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI. Additionally, he was selected to be assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), where he became a White House Aircraft Commander and was a Marine One Co-Pilot and Marine Two Pilot during the Reagan/Bush administration. While assigned to HMX-1, one of his primary duties was as White House Liaison Officer (WHLO), and he was honored to perform advance work for Pope John Paul II’s trip to Los Angeles.
He performed various other flying assignments including Standardization Officer, NATOPS Model Manager, and multiple assignments in both the Operations and Maintenance Departments of tactical and training squadrons. He was the Executive Officer of HMH-462 during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, commonly called the first Gulf War.
Staff assignments included two tours at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) in the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division, where he served as the Head of Officer Career Counseling and the Head of Prevention and Education Programs.
He retired from the Marine Corps in January of 2000 with more than 24 years of service. Personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (two gold stars), Navy Commendation Medal (two gold stars), Air Medal (strike /flight numeral 3), Presidential Service Badge, Sea Service Deployment ribbon (with three stars), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
After retiring, Whitlock used his experience in Marine aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps, Training and Education Command (TECOM), as a contractor supporting the Aviation Standards Branch (ASB) in Quantico, Virginia. During this time, his extensive background in the Training and Readiness (T&R) process for training aircrew led to the design, development, and fielding of the Core Competency Resource Model (CCRM), an analytical process/model that objectively links training standards and readiness reporting levels to resource requirements. For the past 16 years, the CCRM Flight Hour Module has been the Marine Corps sole source justification tool for submission of Marine Corps flight hour budget, a $6.0B requirement.
He and his wife, Gayle, moved to Andalusia in 2014. They are the parents of Dr. Shannon (Ronnie) Levitzke, Kyle Whitlock, and Megan (Matt) Brady, and the grandparents of 8 Jocelyn, Tyler, Mia, Abby, Claire, Paige, Molly, and Harrison.
Whitlock said his retirement goals include spoiling his grandchildren and reducing his handicap in golf.
Veterans Day Events
Monday, Nov. 11, 2024
10 a.m. – Chamber of Commerce Veterans Day parade
All veterans and their family members are invited to ride in the parade on floats prepared by the Chamber. Lineup begins at First Baptist Church from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. The free parade is open to walkers, bikers, golf carts, trucks, trailers and floats. No pre-registration necessary.
Immediately following
The City of Andalusia will host a ceremony at the Covington Veterans Memorial, located behind City Hall. Lt. Col (ret) George Judson (Jud) Whitlock, a former pilot of Marine One and Marine Two, will be the guest speaker.
Reception
After the ceremony, veterans and their guests are invited to a reception in City Hall.