Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
{{Short description|Position in the U.S. Navy}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chief of Chaplains
| body = the United States Navy
| insignia = Seal of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps.svg
| insigniaborder = yes
| insigniasize = 100px
| insigniacaption = Emblem of the Navy Chaplain Corps
| image = Gregory N. Todd (4).jpg
| imagesize =
| incumbent = RADM Gregory N. Todd
| incumbentsince = May 16, 2022
| department = United States Navy Chaplain Corps
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
| type = Military chaplain
| member_of = Armed Forces Chaplains Board
| reports_to = {{plainlist|
}}
| seat = The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
| appointer = The President
| appointer_qualified = with Senate advice and consent
| termlength = 4 years
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument = {{USC|10|8082}}
| formation = November 5, 1917
| first = CAPT John B. Frazier
| deputy = Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy/Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20161019051124/http://www.navy.mil/local/chaplaincorps/ Official Website]
}}
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.[http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforres/MFRHQ/Chaplain/instruction/SECNAVINST%201730_7B.pdf SECNAVINST 1730.1B] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317100326/http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforres/MFRHQ/Chaplain/instruction/SECNAVINST%201730_7B.pdf|date=March 17, 2012|access-date=May 13, 2011}} 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."[http://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-700%20Morale,%20Community%20and%20Religious%20Services/1730.7D.pdf OPNAVINST 1730.1D] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814215301/http://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-700%20Morale,%20Community%20and%20Religious%20Services/1730.7D.pdf|date=August 14, 2011|access-date=May 12, 2011|website=Defense Logistics Agency}} For administrative and personnel matters, the CHC reports to the chief of naval personnel.{{USC|10|8082}} - Chaplain Corps and Chief of Chaplains.
The position was created in 1917 to "provide a system of appointing qualified and professional chaplains that meet the needs of the Navy".{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/lists-of-senior-officers-and-civilian-officials-of-the-us-navy/chief-of-chaplains.html|title=Chief of Chaplains Roster|date=June 7, 2017|access-date=May 17, 2022|website=Naval History and Heritage Command}}{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28908|title=Ceremony Establishes Naval Chaplains School|date=April 17, 2007|access-date=August 18, 2010|author=Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) John Osborne|publisher=Naval Personnel Development Command Public Affairs|url-status=dead|website=U.S. Navy|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215353/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28908}} 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.{{USC|10|8082}} - Chaplain Corps and Chief of Chaplains. By statute, the officeholder holds the two-star rank of rear admiral while serving as Chief.
The current CHC is Rear Admiral Gregory N. Todd, a Lutheran, who assumed office on May 16, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/28728|title=Webcast: Change of Office for the Chaplains|access-date=May 16, 2022|website=DVIDS}}
List of officeholders
File:Navy Chaplain Edward Duff opens House session.jpg 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]]
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/list_single.asp?id=13658|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805054827/http://www.navy.mil/list_single.asp?id=13658|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2012|title=Navy News Service – Eye on the Fleet|date=April 26, 2004|access-date=December 3, 2009|website=U.S. Navy}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{US Navy navbox}}
{{United States Armed Forces}}
{{Current U.S. Military Chiefs of Chaplains}}
{{Armed Forces Chaplains Board}}