Kevin White

12/12/18

Kevin White graduated from NL in 1999. He completed his undergraduate studies at Clemson University in South Carolina, earning a BA in Communication Studies with a minor in Military Studies. White also holds an MBA from the University of Louisville. During his time at Clemson, White received a full Scholarship through the Reserve Officer Training Corps and was commissioned in the Army as a 2^nd Lieutenant following graduation. He earned his wings as an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot and was assigned to the 101^st Airborne at Ft. Campbell, KY. Six months later, he deployed to Iraq with 2^nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry regiment, for the next 12 months. During that deployment, White was awarded the Air Medal with Valor for his team’s actions during a complex attack in the town of Muqdadiya in March of 2004.

After his return to the US, White was promoted to Captain, and six months later he was again deployed for a year, this time to Afghanistan. After that assignment, he took command of Alpha Company, 2-17^th Cavalry Regiment and spent the next year training and preparing them for another deployment back to Afghanistan. In March 2011, White was reassigned to Human Resources Command at Ft. Knox, Kentucky where he spent the next two years as the Aviation Senior Captains Assignment Officer. He was later assigned to the 1^st Armored Brigade, 3^rd Infantry Division in Ft. Stewart, GA. The brigade sent units to eight different European countries from Estonia to Bulgaria. During the rotation, White was stationed in Lithuania, where he had the unique opportunity to trade in his helicopter for a Bradly Fighting vehicle. Upon his return, White moved to Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA and took over the role of Operations officer for 2^nd Battalion 3^rd Combat Aviation Brigade. He was later selected to serve as the Executive officer for the 3^rd Combat Aviation Brigade Commander, responsible for coordination of all action for the 2000+ people and 90+ aircraft at the airfield.

After a year in that position, White was selected to serve on the personal staff for the Secretary of the Army, Secretary Mark Esper, where he currently serves at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Over the past year, White was responsible for planning, coordinating and accompanying the Secretary and his wife on over 35 separate travel engagements and unit visits from South Korea to Poland to Alaska to the Middle East. In addition to travel planning, he works on multiple initiatives and issues affecting family life for Army service members, including spouse hiring. This involves working closely with the Second Lady’s office on military family initiatives.

White currently resides in Alexandria, VA with his wife, Reina; one-year-old daughter, Aubrielle; and dog, Lilly. There are several things that White appreciated during his time at NL. “I learned the value of hard work and focused my drive to achieve my goals. As a student and participating in three sports, theater, band and many different clubs, I realized time management and setting goals is critical to achieving the success I desired. Teachers like Mr. Daryl Hess, Mr. Robert Miller, and Mr. Max Hunsicker were instrumental in helping me develop my leadership style and allowing me to become comfortable in my skin.” The following is White’s advice for current NL students: You determine your success, not where you come from or anything else. If you are waiting for someone to give you what you want, you’ll be waiting your whole life. If you work hard, don’t take no for an answer, you can realize your dreams before you know it. Do what you enjoy and when you don’t enjoy it anymore, find something else to do and spend your time working at it.