Malvin Greston Whitfield (October 11, 1924 – November 19, 2015) was an American athlete, goodwill ambassador, and airman.

After his competitive career, he worked for 47 years as a coach, goodwill ambassador, as well as an athletic mentor in Africa on behalf of the United States Information Service.

[1] Whitfield joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1943 as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

In the early 1950s, he also served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, flying 27 combat missions as a tail gunner.

Whitfield narrowly missed making the 1956 Olympic team while a student at California State University, Los Angeles, and he retired from track competition shortly thereafter.

[5] In his 47 years in Africa, Whitfield trained and gave consultation to dozens of athletes who represented their countries as Olympians and All-Africa Games champions.

[6] During his career as a diplomat, he traveled to over 132 countries and played a key role in training and developing African athletes.

[13] Whitfield died at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospice center in Washington, D.C. on the night of November 19, 2015, aged 91.