Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
Encyclopedia
The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps (CHMC) 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. The CHMC oversees religious ministry in the Marine Corps which one Commandant of the Marine Corps
defined as "a vital function which enhances the personal, family, and community readiness of our Marines, sailors, and their families. Chaplaincy supports the foundational principle of free exercise of religion and helps to enrich the spiritual, moral and ethical fabric of the military."
The current CHMC is Rear Admiral (lower half) Margaret G. Kibben
. She was sworn in on July 9, 2010 as the first woman to serve as Chaplain of the Marine Corps and Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains.
The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
advises the Commandant of the Marine Corps
, the Chief of Naval Operations
, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard
"on all matters pertaining to religion within the Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard" -- but the Deputy Chief of Chaplains serves as Chaplain of the Marine Corps, "advising the CMC on religious ministry matters in reference to support, personnel, plans, programs, policies, and facilities within the USMC." Additionally, in the concurrent role of Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains, the person holding this position is "Deputy Director of Religious Ministries," serving as the "principal assistant to the Chief of Chaplains."
Prior to 2000, when Rear Admiral Louis Iasiello
became the first chaplain of flag rank to serve as Chaplain of the Marine Corps, that position was held by a senior Navy chaplain holding the rank of Navy Captain.
According to Chapter Six of the U.S. military uniform regulations, personnel assigned to the Marine Corps (including chaplains) have the option of wearing Marine Corps uniforms (and chaplains assigned to the Coast Guard may wear Coast Guard uniforms).
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...
as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000. The CHMC oversees religious ministry in the Marine Corps which one Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
defined as "a vital function which enhances the personal, family, and community readiness of our Marines, sailors, and their families. Chaplaincy supports the foundational principle of free exercise of religion and helps to enrich the spiritual, moral and ethical fabric of the military."
The current CHMC is Rear Admiral (lower half) Margaret G. Kibben
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....
. She was sworn in on July 9, 2010 as the first woman to serve as Chaplain of the Marine Corps and Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains.
Assignment and responsibilities
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...
advises the Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
, the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
"on all matters pertaining to religion within the Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard" -- but the Deputy Chief of Chaplains serves as Chaplain of the Marine Corps, "advising the CMC on religious ministry matters in reference to support, personnel, plans, programs, policies, and facilities within the USMC." Additionally, in the concurrent role of Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains, the person holding this position is "Deputy Director of Religious Ministries," serving as the "principal assistant to the Chief of Chaplains."
Prior to 2000, when Rear Admiral Louis Iasiello
Louis Iasiello
Rear Admiral Louis V. Iasiello, USN is a retired American Navy officer who served as the 23rd Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from 2003 to 2006. He is a well known Just War theorist, and his PhD dissertation is entitled: Jus In Bello: Key Issues for a Contemporary Assessment of Just...
became the first chaplain of flag rank to serve as Chaplain of the Marine Corps, that position was held by a senior Navy chaplain holding the rank of Navy Captain.
Marine Corps chaplain support
Navy chaplains support personnel throughout the Department of the Navy, which includes the Navy and Marine Corps, and also support personnel in the United States Coast Guard.Uniforms
- See: Uniforms of the United States Navy #Naval personnel attached to Marine Corps units
According to Chapter Six of the U.S. military uniform regulations, personnel assigned to the Marine Corps (including chaplains) have the option of wearing Marine Corps uniforms (and chaplains assigned to the Coast Guard may wear Coast Guard uniforms).
Chaplains of the U.S. Marine Corps
| Name | Photo | Term began | Term ended | |
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| 8. | CAPT Eli Takesian | 1982 | 1986 | |
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| 13. | CAPT Joseph R. Lamonde Joseph R. Lamonde -Biography:A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lamonde is an ordained Roman Catholic priest. He was named an Honorary Prelate with the title of Reverend Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.-Career:Lamonde joined the United States Marine Corps in 1978... |
April 1, 1998 | August 2000 | |
| 14. | RDML Louis V. Iasiello Louis Iasiello Rear Admiral Louis V. Iasiello, USN is a retired American Navy officer who served as the 23rd Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from 2003 to 2006. He is a well known Just War theorist, and his PhD dissertation is entitled: Jus In Bello: Key Issues for a Contemporary Assessment of Just... |
August 2000 | July , 2003 | |
| 15. | RDML Robert F. Burt Robert F. Burt Chaplain Robert F. Burt, USN, is an American Navy officer who served as the 24th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from 2006 to 2010.-External links:... |
July , 2003 | June 22, 2006 | |
| 16. | RDML Alan T. Baker Alan T. Baker Rear Admiral Alan T. Baker, USN, born in Santa Ana, CA, 1956, is a retired American Navy officer who served as the 16th Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps from 2006 to 2009. Chaplain Baker is the first graduate of the United States Naval Academy and former Surface Warfare Officer to serve... |
June 23, 2006 | 2009 | |
| 17. | RDML Mark L. Tidd 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:... |
August , 2009 | May 13, 2010 | |
| 18. | RDML Margaret G. Kibben 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.... |
May 14, 2010 | Incumbent |
See also
- Chief of Chaplains of the United States NavyChief of Chaplains of the United States NavyThe 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...
- Chaplain of the Coast GuardChaplain of the Coast GuardThe 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...
- Chiefs of Chaplains of the United StatesChiefs of Chaplains of the United StatesIn 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...
- International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference
- Military chaplainMilitary chaplainA 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...
- United States Army Chaplain CorpsChaplain 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...
- United States Air Force Chaplain CorpsUnited States Air Force Chaplain CorpsThe 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...
- Chaplain's Medal for HeroismChaplain's Medal for HeroismThe Chaplain's Medal for Heroism is a decoration of the United States Congress which was authorized by an act of Congress on July 14, 1960. Also known as the Chaplain's Medal of Honor and the Four Chaplains' Medal, the decoration commemorates the actions of the Four Chaplains who gave their lives...