After 31 years on the U.S. Navy payroll, Captain Ken Whidden has elected to retire from the naval service effective October 1, 2009.He is a native of Northwest Florida, growing up in Chipley, Florida.
Capt. Whidden enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1978 at the rank of seaman recruit, completing boot camp in Orlando, FL. After recruit training, he completed Electronics Technician “A” school at NTC Great Lakes, IL. He then transferred to NTC Orlando for Navy Nuclear Power School where he qualified as a nuclear power reactor operator at the age of 20. During his studies at Navy Nuclear Power School, Capt. Whidden applied for and received an NROTC scholarship to attend Auburn University. After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Aviation Management, he attended U.S. Navy Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida, where he received the “wings of gold” of a naval aviator.
Following his training in the SH-3 “Sea King” helicopter, he flew missions overseas throughout the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf.After completing his fleet tour, he was reassigned to Whiting Field, in Milton, Florida as a flight instructor in the T-34C.During his tenure as flight instructor, Capt. Whidden amassed over 3000 instructor flight hours and flew with over 1500 student naval aviators.He completed his command tour at NAS Whiting Field, then transferred to the Naval Reserve Center in Pensacola in support of the Chief of Naval Education and Training.
Capt. Ken Whidden is a Destin resident with his wife Kathy and a proud father of two – son Jeremy at Auburn University and daughter, Jessica, who is a scholarship softball player at Spring Hill College in Mobile.He is active in the Destin community, presently serving on the City of Destin Local Planning Agency and the Destin Area Sports Commission.He is also a member of the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, Okaloosa County Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT), Destin Business Networking International (BNI) and Emerald Coast Auburn Club.
Capt. Whidden is currently a chiropractor serving the healthcare needs of Destin and Emerald Coast residents. For information about the many services provided at Emerald Coast Chiropractic, please visit his website at www.destinchiropractor.com.