Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States
Encyclopedia
In the United States armed forces
, the Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States are the senior service chaplains
who lead and represent the Chaplain Corps of the United States Army
, Navy
, and Air Force
. The Navy created the first Office of the Chief of Chaplains in 1917; the Army followed in 1920, and the Air Force established its own in 1948 after it became a separate branch.
The three Chiefs of Chaplains and the three active duty Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains from the Army, Navy, and Air Force comprise the Armed Forces Chaplains Board
(AFCB) which advises the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
on religious, ethical, and moral matters, in addition to a number of policy issues.
The current military Chiefs of Chaplains are:
On February 18, 2011, the Secretary of Defense announced that President Barack Obama
had nominated Army Deputy Chief of Chaplains
Donald Rutherford for promotion to Major General and assignment as U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains following Chaplain Carvey's retirement.
and Coast Guard
do not commission chaplains, the United States Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains also serves as Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
, and a senior Navy Chaplain holding the rank of Navy Captain serves as Chaplain of the Coast Guard
. The current chaplains are:
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, the Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States are the senior service chaplains
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
who lead and represent the Chaplain Corps of the United States Army
Chaplain Corps (United States Army)
The Chaplain Corps of the United States Army consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned Army officers as well as enlisted soldiers who serve as assistants. Their purpose is to offer religious services, counseling, and moral support to the armed forces, whether in peacetime or at war.-Army...
, Navy
United States Navy Chaplain Corps
The Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned naval officers. Their principal purpose is to "promote the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of the members of the Department of the Navy," which includes the Navy and the United States...
, and Air Force
United States Air Force Chaplain Corps
The Chaplain Corps of the United States Air Force consists of enlisted chaplain assistants and clergy who become commissioned Air Force officers, endorsed and ordained by their particular religious organization...
. The Navy created the first Office of the Chief of Chaplains in 1917; the Army followed in 1920, and the Air Force established its own in 1948 after it became a separate branch.
The three Chiefs of Chaplains and the three active duty Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains from the Army, Navy, and Air Force comprise the Armed Forces Chaplains Board
Armed Forces Chaplains Board
The Armed Forces Chaplains Board is an organizational entity within the United States Department of Defense established to advise the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on religious, ethical, and moral matters, in addition to a number of policy...
(AFCB) which advises the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
The Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, or USD is a high-ranking civilian position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the United States Department of Defense responsible for advising the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on recruitment, career development, pay and...
on religious, ethical, and moral matters, in addition to a number of policy issues.
The current military Chiefs of Chaplains are:
| Name | Photo | Rank and Service | Chaplain Corps Emblem | Position | Appointed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald L. Rutherford Chaplain Donald L. Rutherford, USA is an American Army officer and a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese for the Military Services who is serving as the 23rd Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army.... |
Major general (United States) In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general... US Army United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... |
|
Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army is the chief supervising officer of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. . From 1775 to 1920, chaplains were attached to separate units. The Office of the Chief of Chaplains was created by the National Defense Act of 1920 in order to better organize the... |
July 22, 2011 | |
| Mark L. Tidd Chaplain Mark L. Tidd, USN, is the 25th and current Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy. He was appointed to this assignment on August 27, 2010.-Background:... |
US Navy United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
 |
Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy is the Senior Chaplain in the Navy, the Head of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, and the Director of Religious Ministry Support for the Department of the Navy... |
August 27, 2010 | |
| Cecil R. Richardson Chaplain Cecil R. Richardson, USAF is the 16th and current Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force. He was appointed to this assignment on May 28, 2008.... |
Major general (United States) In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general... US Air Force United States Air Force The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of... |
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Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force is the commanding officer of the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps. The current CCHAF is Major General Cecil R. Richardson.-U.S... |
May 28, 2008 |
On February 18, 2011, the Secretary of Defense announced that President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
had nominated Army Deputy Chief of Chaplains
Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
The Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army is the assistant and second in command of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps to the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. The current DCCH is Brigadier General Charles R. Bailey.-U.S...
Donald Rutherford for promotion to Major General and assignment as U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains following Chaplain Carvey's retirement.
Chaplains of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard
As the Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
do not commission chaplains, the United States Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains also serves as Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps is a position always filled by the officer serving as Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000...
, and a senior Navy Chaplain holding the rank of Navy Captain serves as Chaplain of the Coast Guard
Chaplain of the Coast Guard
The Chaplain of the United States Coast Guard is the senior chaplain of the United States Coast Guard and is attached to USCG Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as a United States Navy Chaplain Corps officer who reports directly to the Commandant of the Coast Guard. The current Chaplain of the...
. The current chaplains are:
| Name | Photo | Rank and Service | Position | Appointed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret G. Kibben Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben, USN, is a Presbyterian minister currently serving as both the 18th Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps and the Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy.... |
US Navy |
Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps is a position always filled by the officer serving as Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000... |
May 14, 2010 | |
| Gary P. Weeden Chaplain Gary P. Weeden is the 9th and current Chaplain of the United States Coast Guard. He was appointed to this assignment on June 11, 2010. Captain Weeden is a graduate of Western Seminary.-References:... |
US Navy |
Chaplain of the Coast Guard The Chaplain of the United States Coast Guard is the senior chaplain of the United States Coast Guard and is attached to USCG Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as a United States Navy Chaplain Corps officer who reports directly to the Commandant of the Coast Guard. The current Chaplain of the... |
June 11, 2010 |
See also
- Annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference
- Chaplain GeneralChaplain GeneralIn the Anglican Church, chaplains general are the seniormost Anglican chaplains in otherwise non-Anglican organizations. Chaplains general are most commonly appointed in Commonwealth Realms, and are responsible for conducting religious services and ceremonies, and generally representing the...
- Armed Forces Chaplaincy CenterArmed Forces Chaplaincy CenterThe Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center is the center for training of United States military chaplains, located at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. Co-located on the AFCC campus are: the United States Army Chaplain Center and School, the United States Naval Chaplaincy School and Center, and...
- United States military chaplain symbolsUnited States military chaplain symbolsReligious symbolism in the United States military includes the use of religious symbols for military chaplain insignia, uniforms, emblems, flags, and chapels; symbolic gestures, actions, and words used in military rituals and ceremonies; and religious symbols or designations used in areas such as...