Rear Admiral Joel Whitehead to Manage the International Propeller Club
Fairfax, VA — The Board of Directors of the International Propeller Club of the United States has selected Rear Admiral Joel Whitehead, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), as its new Executive Vice President. As Executive Vice President, he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the International Propeller Club. He will oversee all activities and functions of the International Propeller Club and serve as the primary liaison to the Club’s 70 port chapters worldwide. Admiral Whitehead will relieve Mr. John Cullather, a public policy expert and veteran of the maritime committees of the U.S. House of Representatives. Cullather has served as the Executive Vice President of the Propeller Club since 2019.
Admiral Whitehead is the president of J. Whitehead & Associates, Inc., a maritime consulting firm in metro New Orleans, LA. He served from 2017 – 2019 as the elected International President of the International Propeller Club. During his 38-year Coast Guard career, he served in various operational assignments, including Commander of the 8th Coast Guard District in New Orleans, where he was responsible for Coast Guard operations and oversight of the maritime and offshore oil industry in 26 states and the Gulf of Mexico. Other assignments included Captain of the Port of Boston, MA, Deputy Group Commander of Group Woods Hole, MA, and marine safety advisor to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator in Valdez, AK, during the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In Washington, DC, he served as Assistant Commandant for Governmental and Public Affairs, Chief of Congressional Affairs, and Chief of Strategic Planning. Admiral Whitehead is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the State University of N.Y., where he completed a master’s degree in public administration. He also completed fellowships in National Security and International Affairs at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. Niels Aalund, International President of the Propeller Club noted that “The International Propeller Club is indeed most fortunate to have Admiral Whitehead at the helm. Bringing him on board as Executive Vice President is an exceptional opportunity to harness Joel’s outstanding leadership skills, strong management background, and proven track record with strategic planning. This will be a real game-changer, and I look for great things to come for the Propeller Club.”
The International Propeller Club of the United States, founded in 1927, is an international business network of maritime professionals dedicated to the promotion of the maritime industry, commerce, and global trade. Local chapters in the United States and abroad are organized into chapters, called “Ports,” which meet regularly to hear from industry leaders, for service opportunities, and to network with industry colleagues. You can learn more about the International Propeller Club of the United States at http://www.propellerclub.us/
