Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy

Summary

The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy (CHC) is the highest-ranking military chaplain in the United States Navy and head of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. As part of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Department of the Navy, the CHC is dual-hatted as the Director of Religious Ministries (N097) under OPNAV.[1][2] In these capacities, the CHC is the principal advisor to the secretary of the Navy, the chief of naval operations and, where appropriate, the commandant of the Marine Corps and commandant of the Coast Guard "on all matters pertaining to religion within the Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard."[3] For administrative and personnel matters, the CHC reports to the chief of naval personnel.[4]

Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
Emblem of the Navy Chaplain Corps
Incumbent
RADM Gregory N. Todd
since May 16, 2022
United States Navy Chaplain Corps
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
TypeMilitary chaplain
AbbreviationCHC[1]
Member ofArmed Forces Chaplains Board
Reports to
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length4 years
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 8082
FormationNovember 5, 1917
First holderCAPT John B. Frazier
DeputyDeputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy/Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
WebsiteOfficial Website

The position was created in 1917 to "provide a system of appointing qualified and professional chaplains that meet the needs of the Navy".[5][6] The nominee, as decided by the president of the United States, must be an active-duty officer of the Chaplain Corps above the rank of commander who has served in the Corps for at least eight years. The CHC serves for a 4-year term, but the president may terminate or extend the appointment at his pleasure.[4] By statute, the officeholder holds the two-star rank of rear admiral while serving as Chief.[4]

The current CHC is Rear Admiral Gregory N. Todd, a Lutheran, who assumed office on May 16, 2022.[7]

List of officeholders edit

 
House Chaplain James Shera Montgomery and Speaker William Bankhead welcome Navy Chief of Chaplains Edward A. Duff, the first Navy chaplain in 117 years (since 1820) to open a House session as guest chaplain, March 25, 1937
Name Photo Term began Term ended
1. CAPT John B. Frazier
 
November 5, 1917 November 1921
2. CAPT Evan W. Scott
 
November 1921 July 1926
3. CAPT Curtis H. Dickins
 
July 1926 July 1929
4. CAPT Sidney K. Evans
 
July 1929 July 1935
5. CAPT Edward A. Duff
 
July 1935 July 1937
6. CAPT Robert D. Workman
 
July 1937 July 1945
7. RADM William N. Thomas
 
July 1945 September 1949
8. RADM Stanton W. Salisbury
 
September 1949 February 1953
9. RADM Edward B. Harp, Jr.
 
February 1953 June 1958
10. RADM George A. Rosso
 
June 1958 July 1963
11. RADM J. Floyd Dreith
 
July 1963 July 1965
12. RADM James W. Kelly
 
July 1965 July 1970
13. RADM Francis L. Garrett
 
July 1970 July 1975
14. RADM John J. O'Connor
 
July 1975 May 1979
15. RADM Ross H. Trower
 
May 1979 August 1983
16. RADM Neil M. Stevenson[8]
 
August 1983 August 1985
17. RADM John R. McNamara
 
August 1985 June 1988
18. RADM Alvin B. Koeneman
 
June 1988 August 1991
19. RADM David E. White
 
August 1991 August 1994
20. RADM Donald K. Muchow
 
August 1994 August 1997
21. RADM A. Byron Holderby, Jr.
 
August 1997 August 2000
22. RADM Barry C. Black[9]
 
August 2000 August 15, 2003
23. RADM Louis V. Iasiello
 
August 16, 2003 June 22, 2006
24. RADM Robert F. Burt
 
June 23, 2006 August 26, 2010
25. RADM Mark L. Tidd
 
August 27, 2010 August 1, 2014
26. RADM Margaret G. Kibben
 
August 2, 2014 July 22, 2018
27. RADM Brent W. Scott
 
July 23, 2018 May 16, 2022
28. RADM Gregory N. Todd
 
May 16, 2022 Incumbent

Chief of Chaplains hallway edit

 
Chaplains Trower, Stevenson, Koeneman, White, and Black at the dedication of the Chief of Chaplains Hallway

A hallway to honor former Chiefs of Navy Chaplain Corps was dedicated at the Navy Annex, in Arlington, Va., in 2004. Five former Chiefs of Chaplains were present at the dedication ceremony, including Barry C. Black, Alvin B. Koeneman, Neil M. Stevenson, Ross H. Trower, and David F. White.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), May 2022" (PDF). MyNavyHR. April 30, 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 30, 2022.
  2. ^ SECNAVINST 1730.1B Archived March 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ OPNAVINST 1730.1D Archived August 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c 10 U.S.C. § 8082 - Chaplain Corps and Chief of Chaplains.
  5. ^ "Chief of Chaplains Roster". Naval History and Heritage Command. June 7, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  6. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) John Osborne (April 17, 2007). "Ceremony Establishes Naval Chaplains School". U.S. Navy. Naval Personnel Development Command Public Affairs. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Webcast: Change of Office for the Chaplains". DVIDS. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Stevenson died November 21, 2009, in Williamsburg, Va. He was deputy chief of chaplains from 1980 to 1983. "Former Navy Chief of Chaplains Dies", Navy.mil (USN official website), 11/25/2009. By Capt. Greg Caiazzo, Chaplain Corps Public Affairs. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  9. ^ He is currently serving as Chaplain of the United States Senate. "Barry C. Black - Chaplain". United States Senate website. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  10. ^ "Navy News Service – Eye on the Fleet". U.S. Navy. April 26, 2004. Retrieved December 3, 2009.