The election citation reads: "For outstanding contributions to the theory of electrical machines, and for the design of many of the world's largest hydrogenerators.". "Whitney is an IEEE Fellow and a member of the IEEE Rotating Machinery, Synchronous and the Power Generation Hydraulic subcommittees".
The election citation recognizes Whitney's significant contributions to electrical machines, particularly in designing massive hydroelectric generators. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and active member of several IEEE committees related to rotating machinery, synchronous machines, and power generation.