Thomas Lynn Solhjem (born 1956) is a retired United States Army major general who served as the 25th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. Solhjem is the first ordained Assemblies of God minister to attain the position.
Education Solhjem received a Bachelors of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries from North Central University in 1982. He completed a Masters of Divinity with Bethel Theological Seminary in 1988, and holds a second master's degree in Military Strategic Studies.
Military career Solhjem began his military career in 1974 with the 82nd Combat Engineer Battalion. After serving on active duty for two years, he transferred to the Army Reserve, where he remained for twelve years. After finishing his Masters of Divinity, he accessioned as an active duty chaplain in 1988.
Solhjem has given direct religious support to soldiers, totaling more than 68 months in combat zones. Prior to his appointment as the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, he served in various key leadership positions to include United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), Command Chaplain, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as well as Command Chaplain, United States Special Operations Command, AFB, Florida.
In July 2015, Solhjem was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as the 25th Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. In May 2019, Colonel William Green Jr., an African American Baptist minister, was nominated to succeed him as Deputy Chief of Chaplains. On May 31, 2019, Solhjem was promoted to major general and assigned as the 25th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army.
As the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Solhjem served as the chief strategist for the United States Army Chaplain Corps and senior coordinating general officer for actions assigned to Assistant Chiefs of Chaplains (Reserve Component) and the USACHCS Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. As a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, he and other members advise the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical and quality-of-life concerns.https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-solhjem-684b4a64
Awards and decorations Combat Action BadgeMaster Parachutist BadgeRanger TabArmy Staff Identification Badge75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification BadgeSilver German Parachutist BadgeU.S. Army Chaplain Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia10 Overseas Service Bars Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf clusterBronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clustersDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf clusterJoint Service Commendation MedalArmy Commendation MedalJoint Service Achievement MedalArmy Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clustersJoint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf clusterValorous Unit AwardMeritorious Unit CommendationNational Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service starSouthwest Asia Service Medal with two service starsAfghanistan Campaign Medal with four service starsIraq Campaign Medal with four service starsGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalArmed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze Hourglass deviceArmy Service RibbonArmy Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 5NATO Medal for service with ISAFKuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
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