Lieutenant Colonel Dan Whisnant enlisted in the Marines and entered boot camp at MCRD San Diego in October 1987.

After deploying with two MEUs and deploying in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and six years as an enlisted Marine, Sergeant Whisnant was selected for the Meritorious Commissioning Program in June 1994, and was commissioned in December 1994. His first assignment was with the 24th MEU as the MEU’s Counterintelligence Officer. After multiple assignments overseas in Bosnia and Haiti over the next four years, 1stLt Whisnant decided to join the Marine Reserves and finish his college degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL where he received a BS in Manufacturing Technology & Management in December 2000.

In January 1999, Captain Whisnant joined 2/24 and held the following billets: Scout Sniper Platoon Commander, Platoon Commander, Company G, and Company Executive Officer, Company G. In December 2003, he assumed the duties of the Battalion’s Intelligence Officer during the battalion’s mobilization and deployment to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 in support of OIF II-2.

In August 2005, he transferred to 1/24 where he served as the Company Commander for Company A. During his tour he mobilized and deployed the company to Iraq in support of OIF 05-07.2. In December 2008, he transferred back to 2/24 to serve as the Battalion Executive Officer. His most recent assignment has been to serve on the CJCS Staff within the J-3 as a Global Operations Officer.

His personal decorations include Bronze Star, Joint Meritorious Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal (3d award).

The military schools LtCol Whisnant has completed include Marine Corps Command & Staff College & Amphibious Warfare School. He will complete his Masters in Military Studies in 2013.

He resides in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife, Michele and daughter, Kierstan (16). Their son, Tyler was commissioned as a 2ndLt on Mar 13, 2011 and is scheduled to attend TBS in Oct 2011. He has worked for Stryker Corporation since February 2002 in a variety of roles. His current role is that of Senior Manager for Business Development where he leads the sales efforts to all VA hospitals and DoD medical treatment facilities.