New U.S. Army chaplain chief appointed

The U.S. Army has appointed Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) David Hicks as its new chief of chaplains.

Hicks, 61, who previously served as the deputy chief of chaplains, has almost 30 years of Army chaplain service.

He succeeds Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Gaylord Gunhus, who served as the chief of chaplains since July 1999, the Army said in an Aug. 5 announcement. Hicks’ new role became official at a July 17 ceremony.

In his new position, Hicks will oversee about 2,200 active duty National Guard and Reserve chaplains from 120 faith groups serving worldwide.

Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Hicks also has served as command chaplain at U.S. Army Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., and in other positions in Germany, New Jersey, Georgia and Alaska.

(RNS)