David Wherley, Jr.

David Franklin Wherley Jr. (February 9, 1947 – June 22, 2009) was a United States Air Force Major General who served as commander of the District of Columbia National Guard.

Early life Wherley and his future wife, Ann, attended York Catholic High School together in their hometown of York, Pennsylvania. They graduated in 1965, and married on July 19, 1969.

Career Wherley began his military career in 1969 when he received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Fordham University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham, and in 1977 gained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Wherley was appointed commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard in 2003. He retired from that position and from the Air Force in 2008.

The Wherleys were interred together at Arlington National Cemetery on June 30, 2009.

Assignments September 1969 – September 1970, student, undergraduate pilot training, 3576th Student Squadron, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. September 1970 – October 1972, T-38 instructor pilot, 3553rd Pilot Training Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. October 1972 – October 1973, T-38 class commander, 3550th Student Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. October 1973 – September 1978, F-105 pilot, 121st Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. September 1978 – June 1982, flight safety officer, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. June 1982 – June 1985, F-4 instructor pilot, 121st Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. June 1985 – December 1985, operations officer, 121st Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. December 1985 – July 1987, commander, 121st Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. July 1987 – March 1989, director of operations, Headquarters, District of Columbia Air National Guard, Washington, D.C. March 1989 – November 1995, commander, Detachment 1/201st Airlift Squadron, Headquarters, District of Columbia Air National Guard, later Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. November 1995 – December 1997, vice commander, 113th Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. January 1998 – April 1998, deputy commander for operations (fighters), 4404th Wing (Provisional), Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia May 1998 – June 2003, commander, 113th Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. July 2003 – 2008, commanding general, District of Columbia National Guard, Washington, D.C.

Flight information Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: More than 5,000 Aircraft flown: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Lockheed T-33, Northrop T-38 Talon, Republic F-105 Thunderchief, C-21 Learjet, Boeing C-22, C-38 Courier

Awards and decorations