About Admiral Todd

Rear Admiral Gregory N. Todd retired from the United States Navy after serving as the 28th Chief of Chaplains, the senior chaplain of the Department of the Navy. As Chief of Chaplains, he directed the worldwide ministry of the Navy Chaplain Corps, providing spiritual care, ethical leadership, and religious ministry support for more than one million Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilian personnel, and their families serving around the globe.

A minister of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Admiral Todd’s military career spanned four decades of service. He is the only chaplain to have served as Chaplain of both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Coast Guard before being appointed Chief of Chaplains.

Throughout his career, Admiral Todd ministered wherever America’s service members served. He deployed in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, provided ministry following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 as the first Navy chaplain to arrive at Ground Zero, and led chaplain teams responding to national tragedies and humanitarian crises.

As Chief of Chaplains, Admiral Todd championed spiritual readiness as a critical component of personal and warfighting readiness. He advanced the use of data collection to inform decision-making for Religious Ministry programs, developed policy establishing manning standards for Navy chaplains, and drove legislation creating opportunities for Sailors and Marines to attend seminary utilizing Navy funding.

Admiral Todd attended Concordia College Portland and Concordia Seminary St. Louis, and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in recognition of his distinguished ministry and military service.

Today, Admiral Todd continues to speak and write on leadership, faith, ethics, and public service, drawing upon decades of experience serving those who defend the nation.