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.SECNAVINST 1730.1B 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."OPNAVINST 1730.1D For administrative and personnel matters, the CHC reports to the chief of naval personnel. - 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". 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. - 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 Carey H. Cash, a Southern Baptist, who succeeded Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod minister Gregory N. Todd on May 16, 2026.

List of officeholders

Name Photo Term began Term ended1. CAPT John B. Frazier November 5, 1917 November 19212. CAPT Evan W. Scott November 1921 July 19263. CAPT Curtis H. Dickins July 1926 July 19294. CAPT Sidney K. Evans July 1929 July 19355. CAPT Edward A. Duff July 1935 July 19376. CAPT Robert D. Workman July 1937 July 19457. RADM William N. Thomas July 1945 September 19498. RADM Stanton W. Salisbury September 1949 February 19539. RADM Edward B. Harp, Jr. February 1953 June 195810. RADM George A. Rosso June 1958 July 196311. RADM J. Floyd Dreith July 1963 July 196512. RADM James W. Kelly July 1965 July 197013. RADM Francis L. Garrett July 1970 July 197514. RADM John J. O'Connor July 1975 May 197915. RADM Ross H. Trower May 1979 August 198316. RADM Neil M. StevensonStevenson 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. August 1983 August 198517. RADM John R. McNamara August 1985 June 198818. RADM Alvin B. Koeneman June 1988 August 199119. RADM David E. White August 1991 August 199420. RADM Donald K. Muchow August 1994 August 199721. RADM A. Byron Holderby, Jr. August 1997 August 200022. RADM Barry BlackHe is currently serving as Chaplain of the United States Senate. August 2000 August 15, 200323. RADM Louis V. Iasiello August 16, 2003 June 22, 200624. RADM Robert F. Burt June 23, 2006 August 26, 201025. RADM Mark L. Tidd August 27, 2010 August 1, 201426. RADM Margaret G. Kibben August 2, 2014 July 22, 201827. RADM Brent W. Scott July 23, 2018 May 16, 202228. RADM Gregory N. Todd May 16, 2022 May 16, 2026 29.RADM Carey H. CashMay 15, 2026Incumbent

Memorial 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 Black, Alvin B. Koeneman, Neil M. Stevenson, Ross H. Trower, and David F. White.

See also Armed Forces Chaplains Board Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps Chaplain of the Coast Guard Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference

References