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.[1][2]

The current military Chiefs of Chaplains are:

Name Photo Rank and Service Chaplain Corps
Emblem
Position Appointed
Thomas L. Solhjem
Thomas L. Solhjem (5).jpg
Major General
US Army
Army.mil-53469-2009-10-20-071025.gif
Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army May 31, 2019
Gregory N. Todd
Gregory N. Todd (4).jpg
Rear Admiral
US Navy
Seal of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps.svg
Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy May 16, 2022
Randall E. Kitchens
Ch, Maj Gen Kitchens.jpg
Major General
US Air Force
AF Chaplain Corps Seal.png
Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force October 2021

Chaplains of the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force

As the Marine Corps 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 Air Force Chief of Chaplains also serves as Chaplain for the United States Space Force. The current chaplains are:

Name Photo Rank and Service Position Appointed
Carey H. Cash
Carey H. Cash (4).jpg
Rear Admiral
US Navy
Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps May 17, 2022
Daniel L. Mode
Daniel L. Mode (2).jpg
Captain
US Navy
Chaplain of the United States Coast Guard April 20, 2022[3]
Randall E. Kitchens
Ch, Maj Gen Kitchens.jpg
Major General
US Air Force
Chaplain of the United States Space Force October, 2021[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ prhome.defense.gov Archived 2011-06-30 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved May 13, 2011.
  2. ^ DOD Instruction 5120.08, retrieved May 13, 2011.
  3. ^ "Father Daniel L. Mode, CHC (CAPT), USN, Assumes Watch as New Chaplain of the U.S. Coast Guard". Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  4. ^ "Biography, MAJOR GENERAL CHAPLAIN RANDALL E. KITCHENS". United States Air Force. October 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2023.