Paul Whelan
Paul Nicholas Whelan, born 1970, Canadian-born former U.S. Marine arrested in Russia on espionage charges
Birth of Paul Nicholas Whelan
1970 Mar 5 | Age 0
Paul Nicholas Whelan was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to British parents with Irish heritage. He later became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Whelan Graduates from Huron High School
1988 | Age 17
Paul Whelan and his twin brother David graduated from Huron High School in the Ann Arbor area of Michigan.
Whelan Enters Law Enforcement Profession
1988 | Age 17
According to Whelan, he began his career in law enforcement. However, the Chelsea Police said he worked in lesser roles and as a part-time officer from 1990 to 1996, while the Washtenaw County sheriff reported no record of his employment.
Whelan Works for Chelsea Police Department
1990 | Age 19
Whelan served as a part-time officer for the Chelsea Police Department.
Whelan Enlists in Marine Corps Reserve
1994 | Age 23
Whelan enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve.
End of Whelan's Employment with Chelsea Police Department
1996 | Age 25
Whelan's employment with the Chelsea Police Department ended.
Whelan Serves as Patrol Officer in Keego Harbor
1998 | Age 27
Whelan worked as a patrol officer in the Keego Harbor police department.
End of Whelan's Time as Patrol Officer in Keego Harbor
2000 | Age 29
Whelan's time as a patrol officer in the Keego Harbor police department ended.
Whelan Becomes IT Manager at Kelly Services
2001 | Age 30
Whelan began working as an IT manager for Kelly Services.
End of Whelan's Time as IT Manager at Kelly Services
2003 | Age 32
Whelan's time as an IT manager for Kelly Services ended.
Whelan Serves in Marine Corps Reserve
2003 | Age 32
Whelan took military leave from Kelly Services to serve with the Marine Corps Reserve, including service in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Whelan Begins Traveling to Russia
2006 | Age 35
Whelan traveled to Russia multiple times and maintained a presence on a Russian-language social media website.
Whelan Discharged from the Marines
2008 | Age 37
Whelan left the Marines with a bad conduct discharge after a court-martial conviction.
Whelan Returns to Kelly Services
2008 | Age 37
Whelan returned to Kelly Services as an IT manager.
Whelan Convicted in Court-Martial
2008 Jan | Age 37
Whelan was convicted in a court-martial on multiple counts related to larceny.
End of Whelan's Second Stint at Kelly Services
2010 | Age 39
Whelan's second stint as an IT manager for Kelly Services ended.
Whelan Promoted to Senior Manager at Kelly Services
2010 | Age 39
Whelan was promoted to senior manager of global security and operations at Kelly Services.
End of Whelan's Time as Senior Manager at Kelly Services
2016 | Age 45
Whelan's time as senior manager of global security and operations at Kelly Services ended.
Whelan Arrested in Russia
2018 Dec 28 | Age 48
Whelan was arrested in Moscow by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of spying.
Whelan Formally Charged with Espionage
2019 Jan 3 | Age 48
Whelan was formally charged with espionage.
Whelan Sentenced to Prison in Russia
2020 Jun 15 | Age 50
Whelan was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison for espionage.
U.S. Ambassador Visits Whelan in Russian Penal Colony
2023 May 4 | Age 53
U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy visited Whelan in the remote Russian penal colony where he was being held.
Blinken Speaks with Whelan
2023 Aug 16 | Age 53
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Whelan on the phone, assuring him of efforts to secure his release.
Whelan Assaulted in Penal Colony
2023 Nov 28 | Age 53
Whelan was reportedly assaulted by another inmate at the penal colony.
Whelan Released in Prisoner Swap
2024 Aug 1 | Age 54
Whelan was released as part of a prisoner exchange at Ankara Esenboğa Airport.
Birth of Paul Nicholas Whelan
Whelan Graduates from Huron High School
Whelan Enters Law Enforcement Profession
Whelan Works for Chelsea Police Department
Whelan Enlists in Marine Corps Reserve
End of Whelan's Employment with Chelsea Police Department
Whelan Serves as Patrol Officer in Keego Harbor
End of Whelan's Time as Patrol Officer in Keego Harbor
Whelan Becomes IT Manager at Kelly Services
End of Whelan's Time as IT Manager at Kelly Services
Whelan Serves in Marine Corps Reserve
Whelan Begins Traveling to Russia
Whelan Discharged from the Marines
Whelan Returns to Kelly Services
Whelan Convicted in Court-Martial
End of Whelan's Second Stint at Kelly Services
Whelan Promoted to Senior Manager at Kelly Services
End of Whelan's Time as Senior Manager at Kelly Services
Whelan Arrested in Russia
Whelan Formally Charged with Espionage
Whelan Sentenced to Prison in Russia
U.S. Ambassador Visits Whelan in Russian Penal Colony
Blinken Speaks with Whelan
Whelan Assaulted in Penal Colony
Whelan Released in Prisoner Swap
Paul Whelan
Paul Nicholas Whelan, born 1970, Canadian-born former U.S. Marine arrested in Russia on espionage charges
Birth of Paul Nicholas Whelan
1970 Mar 5 | Age 0
Paul Nicholas Whelan was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to British parents with Irish heritage. He later became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Whelan Graduates from Huron High School
1988 | Age 17
Paul Whelan and his twin brother David graduated from Huron High School in the Ann Arbor area of Michigan.
Whelan Enters Law Enforcement Profession
1988 | Age 17
According to Whelan, he began his career in law enforcement. However, the Chelsea Police said he worked in lesser roles and as a part-time officer from 1990 to 1996, while the Washtenaw County sheriff reported no record of his employment.
Whelan Works for Chelsea Police Department
1990 | Age 19
Whelan served as a part-time officer for the Chelsea Police Department.
Whelan Enlists in Marine Corps Reserve
1994 | Age 23
Whelan enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve.
End of Whelan's Employment with Chelsea Police Department
1996 | Age 25
Whelan's employment with the Chelsea Police Department ended.
Whelan Serves as Patrol Officer in Keego Harbor
1998 | Age 27
Whelan worked as a patrol officer in the Keego Harbor police department.
End of Whelan's Time as Patrol Officer in Keego Harbor
2000 | Age 29
Whelan's time as a patrol officer in the Keego Harbor police department ended.
Whelan Becomes IT Manager at Kelly Services
2001 | Age 30
Whelan began working as an IT manager for Kelly Services.
End of Whelan's Time as IT Manager at Kelly Services
2003 | Age 32
Whelan's time as an IT manager for Kelly Services ended.
Whelan Serves in Marine Corps Reserve
2003 | Age 32
Whelan took military leave from Kelly Services to serve with the Marine Corps Reserve, including service in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Whelan Begins Traveling to Russia
2006 | Age 35
Whelan traveled to Russia multiple times and maintained a presence on a Russian-language social media website.
Whelan Discharged from the Marines
2008 | Age 37
Whelan left the Marines with a bad conduct discharge after a court-martial conviction.
Whelan Returns to Kelly Services
2008 | Age 37
Whelan returned to Kelly Services as an IT manager.
Whelan Convicted in Court-Martial
2008 Jan | Age 37
Whelan was convicted in a court-martial on multiple counts related to larceny.
End of Whelan's Second Stint at Kelly Services
2010 | Age 39
Whelan's second stint as an IT manager for Kelly Services ended.
Whelan Promoted to Senior Manager at Kelly Services
2010 | Age 39
Whelan was promoted to senior manager of global security and operations at Kelly Services.
End of Whelan's Time as Senior Manager at Kelly Services
2016 | Age 45
Whelan's time as senior manager of global security and operations at Kelly Services ended.
Whelan Arrested in Russia
2018 Dec 28 | Age 48
Whelan was arrested in Moscow by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of spying.
Whelan Formally Charged with Espionage
2019 Jan 3 | Age 48
Whelan was formally charged with espionage.
Whelan Sentenced to Prison in Russia
2020 Jun 15 | Age 50
Whelan was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison for espionage.
U.S. Ambassador Visits Whelan in Russian Penal Colony
2023 May 4 | Age 53
U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy visited Whelan in the remote Russian penal colony where he was being held.
Blinken Speaks with Whelan
2023 Aug 16 | Age 53
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Whelan on the phone, assuring him of efforts to secure his release.
Whelan Assaulted in Penal Colony
2023 Nov 28 | Age 53
Whelan was reportedly assaulted by another inmate at the penal colony.
Whelan Released in Prisoner Swap
2024 Aug 1 | Age 54
Whelan was released as part of a prisoner exchange at Ankara Esenboğa Airport.
Birth of Paul Nicholas Whelan
Whelan Graduates from Huron High School
Whelan Enters Law Enforcement Profession
Whelan Works for Chelsea Police Department
Whelan Enlists in Marine Corps Reserve
End of Whelan's Employment with Chelsea Police Department
Whelan Serves as Patrol Officer in Keego Harbor
End of Whelan's Time as Patrol Officer in Keego Harbor
Whelan Becomes IT Manager at Kelly Services
End of Whelan's Time as IT Manager at Kelly Services
Whelan Serves in Marine Corps Reserve
Whelan Begins Traveling to Russia
Whelan Discharged from the Marines
Whelan Returns to Kelly Services
Whelan Convicted in Court-Martial
End of Whelan's Second Stint at Kelly Services
Whelan Promoted to Senior Manager at Kelly Services
End of Whelan's Time as Senior Manager at Kelly Services
Whelan Arrested in Russia
Whelan Formally Charged with Espionage
Whelan Sentenced to Prison in Russia
U.S. Ambassador Visits Whelan in Russian Penal Colony
Blinken Speaks with Whelan
Whelan Assaulted in Penal Colony
Whelan Released in Prisoner Swap
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Timeline was auto-generated using Google Gemini AI from Wikipedia content. Please verify with original sources: