Army Chief of Chaplains
Role and Responsibilities
The Chief of Chaplains (CCH) of the United States Army is the chief supervising officer of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. From 1775 to 1920, chaplains were attached to separate units. The Office of the Chief of Chaplains was created by the National Defense Act of 1920 in order to better organize the Chaplaincy.
The National Defense Act of 1920 stated the following: “One chaplain, of rank not below that of major, may be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to be Chief of Chaplains. He shall serve as such for four years, and shall have the rank of colonel while so serving. His duties shall include investigation into the qualifications of candidates for appointment as chaplain, and general coordination and supervision of the work of chaplains.”
Chaplain (Major) John T. Axton, a Congregationalist minister, became the first Army Chief of Chaplains on July 15, 1920, and served in that capacity, in the rank of colonel, for two consecutive four-year terms.
The current Army Chief of Chaplains is Chaplain (Major General) William Green Jr. He served in this position in an acting capacity for six months before his official swearing in as the 26th Army Chief of Chaplains on December 5, 2023.
Chaplain (MG) William Green Jr.
National Baptist Convention
26th Army Chief of Chaplains
June 21, 2023 (acting)
December 5, 2023 - Present
CH (MG) Thomas L. Solhjem
Assemblies of God
25th Army Chief of Chaplains
May 31, 2019 - June 20, 2023
CH (MG) Douglas L. Carver
Southern Baptist
22nd Army Chief of Chaplains
July 12, 2007 - July 21, 2011
CH (MG) Donald L. Rutherford
Roman Catholic
23rd Army Chief of Chaplains
July 22, 2011 - May 21, 2015
CH (MG) Paul K. Hurley
Roman Catholic
24th Army Chief of Chaplains
May 22, 2015 - May 30, 2019
CH (MG) Donald W. Shea
Roman Catholic
19th Army Chief of Chaplains
August 7, 1994 - May 31, 1999
CH (MG) Gaylord t. Gunhus
Lutheran Brethren
20th Army Chief of Chaplains
July 1, 1999 - July 28, 2003
CH (MG) David H. Hicks
Presbyterian
21st Army Chief of Chaplains
August 16, 2003 - July 11, 2007
CH (MG) Patrick J. Hessian
Roman Catholic
16th Army Chief of Chaplains
July 1, 1982 - June 30, 1986
CH (MG) Norris L. Einertson
Lutheran
17th Army Chief of Chaplains
July 1, 1986 - August 26, 1990
CH (MG) Matthew Zimmerman Jr.
National Baptist Convention
18th Army Chief of Chaplains
August 27, 1990 - August 6, 1994
CH (MG) Gerhardt W. Hyatt
Lutheran
13th Army Chief of Chaplains
August 3, 1971 - July 29, 1975
CH (MG) Orris E. Kelly
Methodist
14th Army Chief of Chaplains
August 1, 1975 - July 1, 1979
CH (MG) Kermit D. Johnson
United Presbyterian
15th Army Chief of Chaplains
July 2, 1979 - June 30, 1982
CH (MG) Frank A. Tobey
American Baptist
10th Army Chief of Chaplains
November 1, 1958 - October 31, 1962
CH (MG) Charles E. Brown Jr
United Methodist
11th Army Chief of Chaplains
November 1, 1962 - July 31, 1967
CH (MG) Francis L. Sampson
Roman Catholic
12th Army Chief of Chaplains
August 1, 1967 - July 31, 1971
CH (MG) Roy M. Parker
Southern Baptist
7th Army Chief of Chaplains
August 2, 1949 - May 27, 1952
CH (MG) Ivan l. Bennett
Southern Baptist
8th Army Chief of Chaplains
May 28, 1952 - April 30, 1954
CH (MG) Patrick J. Ryan
Roman Catholic
9th Army Chief of Chaplains
May 1, 1954 - October 30, 1958
CH (COL) Alvin J. Brasted
Baptist
4th Army Chief of Chaplains
December 23, 1933 - December 22, 1937
CH (MG) William R. Arnold
Roman Catholic
5th Army Chief of Chaplains
December 23, 1937 - February 14, 1945
CH (MG) Luther D. Miller
Episcopalain
6th Army Chief of Chaplains
April 12, 1945 (acting)
July 14, 1945 - August 1, 1949
CH (COL) John T. Axton
Congregational
1st Army Chief of Chaplains
July 15, 1920 - April 6, 1928
CH (COL) Edmund P. Easterbrook
Methodist
2nd Army Chief of Chaplains
April 7, 1928 - December 22, 1929
CH (COL) Julian E. Yates
Northern Baptist
3rd Army Chief of Chaplains
December 23, 1929 - December 22, 1933