Paul Whitescarver will lead Southeastern Connecticut’s designated economic development organization.
GROTON, Conn. — The Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer) Board of Directors has unanimously chosen retired Navy Capt. Paul Whitescarver as its next executive director.
Whitescarver brings decades of leadership experience to the region’s designated economic development organization. He will assume the executive director position on 10/4/21.
A widely respected Navy veteran, Whitescarver was commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base in Groton from 2015 to 2019. During his SUBASE tenure, he oversaw numerous enhancements to the base’s infrastructure and facilities and was instrumental in promoting the SUB CENTURY celebration.
Whitescarver was also instrumental in establishing and nurturing positive relationships with the region’s municipalities, agencies and community groups, and worked closely with surrounding communities to address issues of mutual concern. These efforts were recognized by the Association of Defense Communities in 2018 when the region received the Great American Defense Community Award.
Most recently, Whitescarver was operations manager for King Industries, a specialty chemical additive company based in Norwalk.
“I am thrilled to be joining an already strong team at seCTer, and to be able to help maximize economic development opportunities in Southeastern Connecticut,” Whitescarver said. “I look forward to working with our clients, communities and partners as we continue to address the economic impacts of the pandemic and grow and diversify the region’s economy”.
Priorities for seCTer in 2021-22 will be to help the region recover from the economic fallout caused by the pandemic, complete the updating of the Region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and assist the region in securing available state and federal recovery dollars.
Whitescarver’s initial focus will be to lead those efforts. His leadership will be crucial in helping the regional economy become stronger and more resilient in the years ahead.
“The Board strongly feels that Paul possesses the qualities that align with seCTer’s most significant priorities and challenges,” said seCTer Board Chair Mark R. Oefinger. “His leadership and management skills; his knowledge and experience with all layers or government – federal, state and local; his ability to work with others; his love of the region; his professionalism, discipline and impeccable integrity; his ability to put forth a vision, to plan and think strategically; and his ability to connect the dots will serve seCTer and the region extraordinarily well.”
Whitescarver, originally from Roanoke, Va., retired from the Navy in 2019 after nearly four decades of service. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business and a master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. He lives in Gales Ferry with his wife Katie.
Whitescarver currently serves as board president of the Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, is on the boards of the Submarine Force Library & Museum and the USS Groton Sail Foundation, and is a member of the Ledyard Planning and Zoning Commission.
