William Green Jr. (chaplain)
William Green Jr. | |
|---|---|
_William_Green_Jr.jpg) Official portrait of Green | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands |
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| Battles / wars | Iraq war |
| Awards | |
| Alma mater | |
William 'Bill' Green Jr. is a United States Army major general serves as the 26th and current Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. He is the third African-American to hold the position.[1]
Biography
Born in Savannah, Georgia to William Green Sr. and Mary Green, Green grew up in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.[1] He has a brother, Calvin, who is a retired colonel; and three sisters, Rosalind, Samantha, and Brenda.[2] After graduating from high school, Green enlisted in the army as a cannon crewman and radio repairman.[1] Green married his wife Robin in 1984; they have three adult children.[1][3] A member of the National Baptist Convention, Green left active duty in 1986 to become an ordained minister. He originally served as the pastor of a small congregation in Garden City, Georgia.[2] In 1989 he received a BS in Criminal Justice from Savannah State University and in 1992 he received a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University. He became an army chaplain in 1994.[1]
Green has served as I Corps Command Chaplain at Joint Base Lewis McChord; Division Chaplain for the 1st Armored Division in Germany and deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom; chaplain of the 28th Combat Support Hospital at Fort Bragg, during which he deployed as part of Operation Joint Forge; chaplain for the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery, Fort Lewis, Washington; chaplain for the 702nd Main Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea; and as chaplain for the 14th Field Artillery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.[4]
From October 2016 to July 2019, Green was the command chaplain at Fort Shafter for the United States Army Pacific.[5]
Green was named deputy chief of chaplains and promoted to brigadier general in August of 2019. In December 2023, he was promoted to major general. He was formally promoted in a ceremony in March 2024.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b c d e Slater, Mel (March 21, 2024). "Army Chief of Chaplains comes home to receive 2nd star". DVIDS. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b Lauderdale, David (Aug 25, 2019). "Hilton Head's gift to U.S.: Two new generals". The Island Packet. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Toone, Trent (14 March 2024). "Why the U.S. Army's chief of chaplains met with Elder Kearon and other leaders at Church headquarters". Church News. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains to Speak at Baccalaureate Service - VMI News". www.vmi.edu. April 12, 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Major General William Green, Jr. - General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil. General Officer Management Office. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Stamps, Paul (20 March 2024). "Army Chief of Chaplains promoted to major general". United States Army. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
