The chaplain of the United States Coast Guard (COCG) is the senior chaplain of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) 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 Coast Guard is Captain Jennifer Bowden.
Purpose The chaplain of the Coast Guard serves as the commandant's senior advisor on matters pertaining to chaplains and the free exercise of religion as enshrined in First Amendment to the United States Constitution as exercised by USCG personnel and their eligible family members. Chaplains provide religious ministry, advocate for and promote the well-being of USCG personnel, and serve as command liaison officers to civilian religious leaders, communities, organizations and agencies. The duties of the office are described in the Commandant's Religious Ministries in the Coast Guard instruction.
The USCG does not have an organic chaplain corps; chaplains from the United States Navy Chaplain Corps are assigned to the USCG to serve in USCG billets."Locations" of Navy chaplains assigned to USCG (June 5, 2009). U.S. Coast Guard official website (Chaplain of the Coast Guard). Retrieved 2009-12-03. Traditionally, documents such as the USCG Chaplains Orientation Manual provided guidance for Navy chaplains assigned to USCG duties. includes "Coast Guard Map of Areas & Districts", "Part A – General Orientation", "USCG Chaplain Orientation Process", "Chapter Two – Coast Guard Chaplains", "History of Coast Guard Chaplains", "Mission of Coast Guard Chaplains", "Coast Guard Chaplains Organizational Structure", "Role of Coast Guard Chaplains", "Part B: Plan of Ministry for Coast Guard Chaplains". Chaplains are clergy who hail from many different faiths and denominations and may be ordained or appointed as ministers, priests, imams, and rabbis by their denomination.
U.S. Coast Guard chaplains Name Photo Term began Term ended1. CAPT Eddy B. Moran 1983 19862. CAPT Richard A. Plishker 1986 19893. CAPT James G. Goode 1989 19924. CAPT Thomas K. Chadwick 1992 19955. CAPT Skip Blancett 1995 19986. CAPT Leroy Gilbert 1998 20027. CAPT Wilbur C. Douglass, III 2002 20068. CAPT William F. Cuddy Jr. 2006 20109. CAPT Gary P. Weeden June 11, 2010 March 201410. CAPT Gregory N. Todd June 23, 2014 April 12, 201811. CAPT Thomas J. Walcott April 12, 2018 April 20, 202212. CAPT Daniel L. Mode April 20, 2022 April 24, 202413. CAPT Jennifer D. Bowden July 2024 Incumbent
See also United States military chaplains Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States Chaplain's Medal for Heroism Armed Forces Chaplains Board Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy United States Navy Chaplain Corps Badges of the United States Coast Guard United States Coast Guard
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