William Green Jr. (chaplain)

This article is about the Army Chief of Chaplains. For the Pennsylvania congressman, see William J. Green Jr. For the judge, see William R. Green Jr.
William Green Jr.
Official portrait of Green
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
RankMajor general
Commands
Battles / warsIraq 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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b Lauderdale, David (Aug 25, 2019). "Hilton Head's gift to U.S.: Two new generals". The Island Packet. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains to Speak at Baccalaureate Service - VMI News". www.vmi.edu. April 12, 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Major General William Green, Jr. - General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil. General Officer Management Office. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  6. ^ Stamps, Paul (20 March 2024). "Army Chief of Chaplains promoted to major general". United States Army. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
2019–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
2023–present 		Succeeded by
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