Lorraine K. Potter
Encyclopedia
Lorraine K. Potter is a former Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force
and was the first female chaplain in the United States Air Force
.
, Potter is an ordained Baptist
minister. She is a graduate of Keuka College
, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
and Central Michigan University
. Her husband, Robert, is also a former Air Force chaplain, who reached the rank of Colonel
.
. The response stated that one of the qualifications for a chaplain in the Air Force was that they had to be male. Several weeks later, she received a letter stating that the Chief of Chaplains had dropped the gender requirement, and that if her church gave her an endorsement, it would be possible for her to become an Air Force chaplain. She received the endorsement and eventually was commissioned an officer in 1973.
In 1992, while stationed at Bolling Air Force Base
, she was promoted to Colonel. As was she the first female chaplain to reach that rank, then-Air Force Chief of Staff Merrill McPeak organized a special ceremony at The Pentagon
to commemorate the occasion.
From 1994 to 1995, she served as Executive Director of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board
before serving as Command Chaplain of the United States Air Forces in Europe
. She also served as Command Chaplain at Headquarters Air Education and Training Command
and briefly returned to Bolling Air Force Base before she was named Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force
with the rank of Brigadier General
in 1999. In 2001, she was promoted to Chief of Chaplains with the rank of Major General
and held that position until her retirement in 2004.
Awards she has received include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
, the Legion of Merit
with oak leaf cluster
, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
, the Meritorious Service Medal
with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal
with oak leaf cluster, the Outstanding Unit Award
, the Organizational Excellence Award
with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
and the Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
with oak leaf cluster.
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...
and was the first female chaplain in the United States 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...
.
Biography
A native of Warwick, Rhode IslandWarwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
, Potter is an ordained Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister. She is a graduate of Keuka College
Keuka College
Founded in 1890 and located on the shores of Keuka Lake in New York State’s Finger Lakes region, Keuka College is an independent, four-year, residential, coeducational college that places emphasis on career and pre-professional education....
, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School is a theological college of Baptist origins. The present day school, which sits on the top of a hill in the beautiful setting of Highland Park in Rochester, New York is a product of several mergers....
and Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
. Her husband, Robert, is also a former Air Force chaplain, who reached the rank of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
.
Career
Potter initially inquired about serving as a military chaplain in 1972. She sent a letter to the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force at the time, Roy M. TerryRoy M. Terry
-Biography:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Terry later moved to Danbury, Connecticut and was an ordained Methodist pastor. He was a graduate of Syracuse University and Yale Divinity School. Terry passed away on May 12, 1988.-Career:...
. The response stated that one of the qualifications for a chaplain in the Air Force was that they had to be male. Several weeks later, she received a letter stating that the Chief of Chaplains had dropped the gender requirement, and that if her church gave her an endorsement, it would be possible for her to become an Air Force chaplain. She received the endorsement and eventually was commissioned an officer in 1973.
In 1992, while stationed at Bolling Air Force Base
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
, she was promoted to Colonel. As was she the first female chaplain to reach that rank, then-Air Force Chief of Staff Merrill McPeak organized a special ceremony at The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
to commemorate the occasion.
From 1994 to 1995, she served as Executive Director of 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...
before serving as Command Chaplain of the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
. She also served as Command Chaplain at Headquarters Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
and briefly returned to Bolling Air Force Base before she was named Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force
Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force
The Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force is the second senior-most Chaplain in the United States Air Force Chaplain Service, holding the rank of Brigadier General, and acting as principal deputy to the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force.The current Deputy Chief of...
with the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in 1999. In 2001, she was promoted to Chief of Chaplains with the rank of Major General
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...
and held that position until her retirement in 2004.
Awards she has received include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
with oak leaf cluster, the Outstanding Unit Award
Outstanding Unit Award
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. The award is presented as a ribbon to any command of the U.S...
, the Organizational Excellence Award
Organizational Excellence Award
The Air Force Organizational Excellence Award is an award of the United States Air Force and is the lowest ranking unit award. The award was first created in 1969 and is presented to Air Force internal organizations that are entities within larger organizations...
with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
An Overseas Service Ribbon is a service military award of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America. There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army,...
and the Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
An Overseas Service Ribbon is a service military award of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America. There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army,...
with oak leaf cluster.