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Saturday, February 22, 2025

Lake Forest alum leads international probe into submersible disaster

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Edward Whipple Interim Vice President for Campus Life | Lake Forest College

Edward Whipple Interim Vice President for Campus Life | Lake Forest College

The implosion of the TITAN submersible on June 18, 2023, captured global attention. Lieutenant Commander Tom Whalen ’01 found himself at the center of the investigation into this tragedy.

As the lead investigator for the United States Coast Guard, Whalen collaborated with international partners from Canada, France, and the United Kingdom to uncover the root causes of the incident and provide answers to the families of those lost.

Whalen’s role placed him in the global spotlight during an 11-day public hearing in August 2024, a broadcast event viewed by over one billion people worldwide.

“It was absolutely nerve-wracking and exhausting,” Whalen said. “Knowing that the Coast Guard had faith in me to handle this responsibility is what drove me to dedicate the last year and a half to this investigation. It was humbling to be one of the few people with deep insight into such a globally significant event. ”

The investigation required Whalen and his team to sift through extensive evidence to piece together events leading up to the implosion.

“We all had the same goal in mind,” Whalen explained. “To provide clarity to the public, closure to families, and identify regulatory gaps to prevent future accidents. ”

Whalen’s journey began after his time at Lake Forest College before joining the Coast Guard. His 22-year career includes roles in counter-narcotics operations in South America, training special forces in Iraq and Pakistan, and ensuring marine safety.

“When I decided to join the military, it took everybody by surprise; they viewed it as me wasting my degree,” Whalen shared. “But it made sense to me. I wanted to be part of something structured and bigger than myself. ”

Whalen maintains a strong connection with Lake Forest College and sees parallels between there and his military service.

“Both are tight-knit communities where you can make a real difference,” he said.

As he compiles a comprehensive report outlining conclusions and recommendations from his investigation near its completion:

“I hope that when our report comes out," said Whalen "I can look at affected families knowing we’ve done everything possible providing them answers."

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