Jerry White (Navigators)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jerry E. White is an author, scientist, retired US Air Force Major General, and is perhaps best known as a Christian
leader who is the immediate past International President of The Navigators
, a worldwide Christian parachurch organization
organization whose main purpose is the discipling
(training) of Christians with a particular emphasis on enabling them to share their faith with others. Dr. White currently serves with The Navigators as President Emeritus and Chairman of the U.S. Board of Directors.
In April 1990 the Whites' son, Stephen, was brutally murdered. In an interview prior to the release of his 2002 book "Making Peace with Reality:Ordering Your Life In A Chaotic World", Dr White said:
He entered the Air Force in 1959 as a distinguished graduate of the University of Washington Reserve Officer Training Corps program. In 13+ years of active duty in the Air Force he served in many capacities, including an assignment as a mission controller at Cape Kennedy during the height of the American space program. He also was an associate professor of astronautics at the Air Force Academy in Colorado and has co-authored a nationally recognized textbook on astrodynamics. Dr. White resigned from active duty service as a major general in the Air Force Reserves. He has been awarded the George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedom Foundation, the Legion of Merit Medal and the Defense Service Medal.
, in 1956. On January 1, 2005 White was succeeded by Michael W. Treneer
, after having served as President for 18 years.
Lauren Libby, vice president of the organization, said that the foresight and careful planning of this transition is characteristic of White’s leadership style:
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
leader who is the immediate past International President of The Navigators
The Navigators (organization)
The Navigators is a worldwide Christian para-church organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Its main purpose is the discipling of Christians with a particular emphasis on enabling them to share their faith with others....
, a worldwide Christian parachurch organization
Parachurch organization
Parachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside of and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism, usually independent of church oversight. These bodies can be businesses, non-profit corporations, or private associations. Most parachurch...
organization whose main purpose is the discipling
Disciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
(training) of Christians with a particular emphasis on enabling them to share their faith with others. Dr. White currently serves with The Navigators as President Emeritus and Chairman of the U.S. Board of Directors.
Personal life
Jerry was born in Iowa and raised in Spokane, Washington. He and his wife Mary Ann have 4 children and 11 grandchildren.In April 1990 the Whites' son, Stephen, was brutally murdered. In an interview prior to the release of his 2002 book "Making Peace with Reality:Ordering Your Life In A Chaotic World", Dr White said:
It caused us to re-examine everything. We, personally, had significant depth in the Word, having done Bible study for many years. But especially in the areas of God’s sovereignty and God’s love, we had to re-examine and “come to peace with the reality” that God is sovereign and that good will come out of this. It was quite difficult, but it was a true testament of our beliefs. I’m so grateful that both Mary and I had deep spiritual roots. Those roots deepened much through this time. I now had to live in a new reality.
Education
- 1959 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, University of Washington
- 1964 Master of Science degree in astronautics, Air Force Institute of TechnologyAir Force Institute of TechnologyThe Air Force Institute of Technology is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education that is part of the United States Air Force. It is located on Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A component of Air University and Air Education and Training Command, AFIT has been...
- 1965 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
- 1970 Ph.D. in astronautics, Purdue University
- 1982 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
- 1984 Air War College, by correspondence
Military career
White served 13½ years active duty with the Air Force, an additional 24 years in the reserves, and retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1997 as a major general.He entered the Air Force in 1959 as a distinguished graduate of the University of Washington Reserve Officer Training Corps program. In 13+ years of active duty in the Air Force he served in many capacities, including an assignment as a mission controller at Cape Kennedy during the height of the American space program. He also was an associate professor of astronautics at the Air Force Academy in Colorado and has co-authored a nationally recognized textbook on astrodynamics. Dr. White resigned from active duty service as a major general in the Air Force Reserves. He has been awarded the George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedom Foundation, the Legion of Merit Medal and the Defense Service Medal.
Assignment highlights
- August 1959 - joined the US Air Force and began officer preflight training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
- July 1960 to June 1962 - served as mission controller, directorate of range operations, Air Force Missile Test Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
- March 1973 - separated from active duty and commissioned in the Air Force Reserve.
- Aug. 12, 1992 - Final promotion in the Air Force Reserve before retirement, to Major General
- July 1993 - mobilization assistant to the commander, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- July 1, 1997 - Retired
Major Awards and Decorations
- Defense Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
As International President of the Navigators
White is only the third international president in The Navigators’ 71-year history. He took over leadership of the organization from Lorne Sanny in 1986. Sanny served as president of The Navigators since the death of the ministry’s founder, Dawson TrotmanDawson Trotman
Dawson Trotman was an evangelist, crusader and founder of The Navigators.Trotman founded The Navigators in 1933 and through this worldwide Christian organization supported various Christian ideals: maintaining the basic disciplines of the Christ-centered Spirit-filled life, abiding in the Word of...
, in 1956. On January 1, 2005 White was succeeded by Michael W. Treneer
Michael W. Treneer
Michael W. Treneer is the current international president of The Navigators. His appointment as President was announced on August 26, 2004. On January 1, 2005, he succeeded Dr. Jerry White who previously served as President for 18 years.-Biographical Sketch:Mike Treneer came to faith in Christ...
, after having served as President for 18 years.
Lauren Libby, vice president of the organization, said that the foresight and careful planning of this transition is characteristic of White’s leadership style:
“Jerry White’s contributions to the worldwide ministry of The Navigators are deeply significant,” Libby said. “When I consider the global changes that have occurred over the past 18 years, we are blessed to have Jerry’s prayerful and thoughtful leadership. We are adapting to an ever-changing world without compromising our values or our beliefs. Jerry’s integrity and commitment to God—and his commitment to the vision of The Navigators—certainly propelled this.”