Commander McWherter retired from the U.S. Navy in 1989 after 21 years active service.  He spent his childhood in north central Illinois, graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1968, and began his naval career in Officer Candidate School in Newport R.I.  After attending Naval Supply Corps School he reported to the USS Eversole (DD-789) as Supply Officer.  Subsequent assignments included Contracts Officer, Naval Electronic Supply Office; Control Division Head, Naval Air Station Bermuda; Contracts Division Head, Naval Weapons Center China Lake; Assistant Supply Officer, USS Mars (AFS-1); Executive Assistant, Naval Material Command; Commander, Defense Contract Administration Management Area, San Diego; and Executive Officer, Naval Regional Contracting Center, San Diego.

Commander McWherter received his masters degree in Contracts and Acquisition from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, in 1979.  He was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal w/ Gold Star, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and numerous other citations.