Thomas L. Solhjem

Last updated
Thomas L. Solhjem
Thomas L. Solhjem (5).jpg
Solhjem in 2022
BornOctober 1956 (age 66)
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1974–2023
Rank Major General
Commands held Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
Battles/wars Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Awards Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal (4)

Thomas Lynn Solhjem (born 1956) is a retired United States Army major general who last 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.

Contents

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 fourteen 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. [1] 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, MacDill 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. [2] In May 2019, Colonel William Green Jr., an African American Baptist minister, was nominated to succeed him as Deputy Chief of Chaplains. [3] [4] On May 31, 2019, Solhjem was promoted to major general and assigned as the 25th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. [5] [6]

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. [2] [7]

Awards and decorations

Combat Action Badge.svg Combat Action Badge
Master Parachutist badge (United States).svg Master Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger Tab
United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png Army Staff Identification Badge
75 Ranger Regiment SCSIB.png 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
German Silver Para badge.jpg Silver German Parachutist Badge
USArmyChapCorRegInsignia.png U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia
ArmyOSB.svg 10 Overseas Service Bars
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Afghanistan Campaign Medal with four service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Iraq Campaign Medal with four service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal ribbon.svg Hourglass Device Bronze.svg Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze Hourglass device
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Award numeral 5.png Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 5
NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for service with ISAF
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles C. Krulak</span> United States Marine Corps general

Charles Chandler Krulak is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1999. He is the son of Lieutenant General Victor H. "Brute" Krulak, who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was the 13th President of Birmingham-Southern College after his stint as a non-executive director of English association football club Aston Villa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Bryant Jr.</span> United States Army general

Albert Bryant Jr. is a retired United States Army brigadier general, best known for service as the Chief of Western Hemisphere Operations during and in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and for his tenure as the Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division at the time of the division's detection and capture of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Bryant also served as the Deputy Commander of Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the United States Army's Armor School. As Chief of Staff of NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR), Bryant was the highest ranking American general on the KFOR leadership team in the lead up to Kosovo independence.

In the United States Armed Forces, a major general is a two-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas R. Morgan</span> United States Marine Corps general

General Thomas Rowland Morgan served as Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps from June 1986 until he retired on July 1, 1988, after completion of more than 36 years of active service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin O. Davis Jr.</span> World War II pilot & first African-American US Air Force brigadier general (1912-2002)

Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. was a United States Air Force (USAF) general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">F. Richard Spencer</span> American Roman Catholic bishop (born 1951)

Frank Richard Spencer is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Formerly a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and a U.S. Army chaplain, he was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services by Pope Benedict XVI on May 22, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army</span>

The Deputy Chief of Chaplains (DCCH) serves as the chief strategist for the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps and senior coordinating general officer for actions assigned to Assistant Chiefs of Chaplains and the USACHCS Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. As directed by the CCH, serves as the intermediate rater for senior-level active duty chaplains. The current DCCH is Chaplain William Green Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark L. Tidd</span> United States admiral

Mark Luzerne Tidd is a former United States Navy officer who served as the 25th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from 2010 to 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilma Vaught</span> United States Air Force General

Wilma L. Vaught is a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general. She was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber unit, and the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general from the comptroller field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David H. Cyr</span> United States Air Force general

David Henry Cyr is a former Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force.

William Leon Clark was Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby V. Page</span> United States Air Force general

Bobby Vincent Page is a retired Brigadier General in the United States Air Force who served as the Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force from 2012 to 2016. In that position he served as the second most senior chaplain in the United States Air Force, the Deputy to the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force, and a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiram "Doc" Jones</span>

Hiram Lee "Doc" Jones is an American United Methodist leader and retired US Air Force chaplain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William D. Razz Waff</span> United States Army general

Major General William D. Razz Waff was the United States Department of the Army Deputy GI (Personnel) in Washington D.C., as of 2013, and chairman, Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee (ARFPC) since January 2014, retiring on 30 September 2015 after over 39 years of service. Previously he served as the commanding general of the Army Reserve's 99th Regional Support Command from 2010 till 2013. and also as the senior commander, Ft Devens, Massachusetts, and Ft Dix, New Jersey, while serving as the commanding general, 99th RSC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel R. Hokanson</span> US Army general

Daniel Robert Hokanson is a four-star general in the United States Army who currently serves as the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau. He previously served as the 21st director of the Army National Guard. His previous military assignments include serving as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, deputy commander of United States Northern Command, adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard, and commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Just Cause. Hokanson assumed his current assignment on August 3, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent W. Scott</span> American Navy chaplain

Brent William Scott is a retired United States Navy rear admiral and chaplain who last served as the 27th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy. He previously served as the 19th Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps and the Deputy Chief of Navy Chaplains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shan K. Bagby</span>

Shan K. Bagby is a United States Army brigadier general and the 28th Chief of the Army Dental Corps. Bagby also serves as the Commanding General, Regional Health Command-Central. Bagby, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, was the Army’s first African-American dental officer promoted to brigadier general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas N. Burnette</span> U.S. Army lieutenant general (1944–2019)

Thomas Nelson Burnette Jr. was a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. He served as deputy commander in chief of U.S. Joint Forces Command from 1999 to 2000 and deputy chief of staff for operations and plans of the United States Army from 1997 to 1999.

References

  1. "Chaplain Promoted to Brigadier General". PENews. Jul 31, 2015. Retrieved Jun 15, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Miele, Jonathan C. (29 September 2015). "Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (Brigadier General) Thomas L. Solhjem". United States Army. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  3. Mitchell, Jr., Nevalon (22 November 2018). "Chaplains/Ecclesiastical Endorsement Ministry". The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  4. "PN801 — Col. William Green Jr. — Army". U.S. Congress. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  5. "PN457 — Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Solhjem — Army". U.S. Congress. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
  6. Jorgensen, Eric (4 June 2019). "Chief of Chaplains". United States Army. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  7. https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-solhjem-684b4a64 [ self-published source ]
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
2015–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
2019–2023