Wesselhoff, of Pontiac, IL, entered the Navy in September 1970, after graduating from Illinois State University.

 

Upon completion of boot camp and several technical schools, he reported to his first ship, the destroyer U.S.S. Corry in Norfolk, VA. In August of 1971 he was selected for flight training and moved to Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL. He completed Aviation Officer Candidate School in December 1971 and received his commission as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. In September of 1972, he received his wings of gold and designation as a Naval Flight Officer, where he primarily flew an E-2 Hawkeye, an all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) craft.

 

For the next 18 years, the Captain served in 4 separate squadrons and on 5 different aircraft carriers. His assignment took him to 26 different countries, 25 different states, and 11 different residences. The final 5 years of his naval career were spent at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, first as a student and then as a Professor of Strategy and Operations.

 

Captain Wesselhoff retired from the Navy in 1995 and moved to Tampa, FL, where he began his second career teaching Naval JROTC at Leto High School.