Brook Whiffen, professor of Military Science at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and chair of the department, has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Maj. Gen. Rod Ruddock, an IUP ROTC graduate and chairman of the Indiana County Board of Commissioners, presented the promotion.
A native of Jackson, Miss., Whiffen was commissioned as an aviation officer from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993.
His previous assignments include Brigade S3, 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group; Operation Iraqi Freedom, Fort Rucker, Ala., and Baghdad, Iraq; Battalion S3, 1st Battalion, 11th Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker; assistant professor of military science (executive officer and recruiting operations officer), University of Mississippi, Oxford; commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 45th Corps Support Group (Forward), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; adjutant, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation (Attack) Regiment, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii; commander, C Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation (Attack) Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas, and Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii; Flight Operations officer-assistant S3, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Fort Stewart, Ga., and Operation Desert Thunder, Kuwait; and Cobra Platoon leader, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Fort Stewart.
Whiffen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering (aerospace) from West Point and a Master of Science in engineering science (aeroacoustics) from the University of Mississippi. His military education includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Armed Services Staff School, and the AH-1 Cobra and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Aircraft Qualification courses.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Second Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with Second Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal with First Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon with Second Numeral, Army Aviator Badge and Parachutist Badge.
Whiffen and his wife have three daughters.