Daniel Whitsett Email and Phone Number

I work at the Presidential Helicopter Program Office (PMA-274) as the Deputy Training IPT Lead supporting. I support the Mission Systems Integrated Product Team (IPT) and as a Deputy to the Avionics Class Desk.

I am the lead AVO for tactical development of MQ-8 and also assist with Operational Test and Evaluation of MQ-8C and MQ-4C. I am currently qualified to operate MQ-8B, MQ-8C, MQ-4C, and MH-60S.

In my time at HSC-23 I have distinguished myself as a subject matter expert in all things unmanned aviation systems (UAS). I completed the tactical qualification syllabus for MQ-8B ahead of timeline and ahead of my peers. After returning from deployment, I participated in multiple MQ-8 training detachments and I was the only junior officer to serve as the Officer in Charge (OIC), leading a team of 10 aircrew and 20 maintainers. As the senior tactical training instructor for MQ-8B, I took the lead in developing training methods to educate future operators about the full functionality and tactical employment of the MQ-8B and it’s payloads. In January of 2019, I was the senior instructor on HSC-23’s first month long MQ-8B training detachment. On this detachment I instructed the first tactical training events in the aircraft (not simulator) since January of 2017. I personally executed more MQ-8B flight hours than the entire HSC community did during CY 2018. Upon return from the training detachment I assumed the role of MQ-8B NATOPS Instructor and am now responsible for the overall management of the MQ-8B program at HSC-23.

HSC-3

SNA at VT-6 and HT-18