Margaret G. Kibben
Encyclopedia
Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben, USN
, is a Presbyterian minister currently serving as both the 18th Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
(CHMC) and the Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
.
She was sworn in as CHMC on July 9, 2010 as the first female to serve in either of her present dual roles.
The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps is a position that has been filled by the officer serving as the Navy's Deputy Chief of Chaplains as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000. Prior to that policy, a senior Navy chaplain holding the rank of Navy Captain served as CHMC.
in Towson, Maryland
. She received both her Masters of Divinity and her Doctor of Ministry
degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary
, Princeton, New Jersey
. She holds a Masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College
. Kibben was a senior fellow at the United States Institute of Peace
.
Kibben’s Marine Corps assignments have included Marine Corps Base Quantico
, Virginia
, where she served with Headquarters and Service Battalion, Security Battalion, the Brig, Marine Corps Air Facility and the president’s Helicopter Squadron, HMX-1
. She also served with the Marines of Second Force Service Support Group Camp Lejeune, N.C., making deployments to both Turkey
and Norway
. Later she was assigned to the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico as the doctrine writer for Religious Ministry.
Kibben’s Navy assignments include the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
as the first female chaplain. She was the Navy Chaplain Corps historian at the Chaplain Resource Board and the command chaplain, USS San Diego (AFS-6)
, in Norfolk, Virginia
. As U.S. 3rd Fleet chaplain, Kibben was responsible for the training and certification of all carrier strike group and expeditionary strike group religious ministry teams. She completed a deployment as the command chaplain, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan as an individual augmentee.
Most recently, Kibben was detailed to the Office of the Chief of Navy Chaplains, first serving as the director for Force Structure and Community Management and subsequently as the executive assistant to the chief of Navy Chaplains.
advises the Commandant of the Marine Corps
, the Chief of Naval Operations
, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard
"on all matters pertaining to religion within the Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard" – but the Deputy Chief of Chaplains serves as Chaplain of the Marine Corps, "advising the CMC on religious ministry matters in reference to support, personnel, plans, programs, policies, and facilities within the USMC." Additionally, as the Navy's Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Kibben is "Deputy Director of Religious Ministries," serving as the "principal assistant to the Chief of Chaplains."
, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal
with two gold stars, and the Navy Commendation Medal with three gold stars.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, is a Presbyterian minister currently serving as both the 18th Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps is a position always filled by the officer serving as Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000...
(CHMC) and the Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy is the Senior Chaplain in the Navy, the Head of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, and the Director of Religious Ministry Support for the Department of the Navy...
.
She was sworn in as CHMC on July 9, 2010 as the first female to serve in either of her present dual roles.
The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps is a position that has been filled by the officer serving as the Navy's Deputy Chief of Chaplains as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000. Prior to that policy, a senior Navy chaplain holding the rank of Navy Captain served as CHMC.
Education
A native of Warrington, Pennsylvania, Rear Admiral Kibben entered active duty in the U.S. Navy in 1986 following studies for a bachelor’s degree from Goucher CollegeGoucher College
Goucher College is a private, co-educational, liberal arts college located in the northern Baltimore suburb of Towson in unincorporated Baltimore County, Maryland, on a 287 acre campus. The school has approximately 1,475 undergraduate students studying in 31 majors and six interdisciplinary...
in Towson, Maryland
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
. She received both her Masters of Divinity and her Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
, Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. She holds a Masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
. Kibben was a senior fellow at the United States Institute of Peace
United States Institute of Peace
The United States Institute of Peace was created by Congress as a non-partisan, federal institution that works to prevent or end violent conflict around the world...
.
Military career
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...
, Virginia
Quantico, Virginia
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...
, where she served with Headquarters and Service Battalion, Security Battalion, the Brig, Marine Corps Air Facility and the president’s Helicopter Squadron, HMX-1
HMX-1
Marine Helicopter Squadron One , is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron responsible for the transportation of the President of the United States, Vice President, Cabinet members and other VIPs...
. She also served with the Marines of Second Force Service Support Group Camp Lejeune, N.C., making deployments to both Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Later she was assigned to the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico as the doctrine writer for Religious Ministry.
Kibben’s Navy assignments include the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
as the first female chaplain. She was the Navy Chaplain Corps historian at the Chaplain Resource Board and the command chaplain, USS San Diego (AFS-6)
USS San Diego (AFS-6)
USS San Diego was a Mars-class combat stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1968. She served the U.S. Atlantic Fleet until decommissioned in 1993...
, in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. As U.S. 3rd Fleet chaplain, Kibben was responsible for the training and certification of all carrier strike group and expeditionary strike group religious ministry teams. She completed a deployment as the command chaplain, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan as an individual augmentee.
Most recently, Kibben was detailed to the Office of the Chief of Navy Chaplains, first serving as the director for Force Structure and Community Management and subsequently as the executive assistant to the chief of Navy Chaplains.
Role and responsibilities
According to Secretary of the Navy Instruction 1730.7D, the Chief of Chaplains of the United States NavyChief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy is the Senior Chaplain in the Navy, the Head of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, and the Director of Religious Ministry Support for the Department of the Navy...
advises the Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
, the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
"on all matters pertaining to religion within the Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard" – but the Deputy Chief of Chaplains serves as Chaplain of the Marine Corps, "advising the CMC on religious ministry matters in reference to support, personnel, plans, programs, policies, and facilities within the USMC." Additionally, as the Navy's Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Kibben is "Deputy Director of Religious Ministries," serving as the "principal assistant to the Chief of Chaplains."
Awards and decorations
Kibben's personal awards include the Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
The Meritorious Service Medal is a senior level military decoration presented to denote acts of meritorious service worthy of recognition. This medal can be awarded in a combat or non- combat theatre...
with two gold stars, and the Navy Commendation Medal with three gold stars.