| Dr. Brian K. Waite currently serves as one of the primary Chaplains for the Naval Submarine Support Command in Norfolk,VA. He reported to these duties in August of 2004. Prior to this assignment, he served with the 2nd Marine Division in Camp LeJeune, NC from August 2002 to July 2004. In this capacity, he served as the Command Chaplain for the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion (Special Forces), Headquarters’ Battalion (2nd Marine
Division), 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine’s Regiment, and 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion – eventually being selected by the Commanding General to serve on his executive staff as the Deputy Division Chaplain for the entire 2nd Marine Division. ChaplainWaite is the youngest and most junior Chaplain to ever hold such a position in the history of the entire Division.
While serving in these various capacities, Chaplain Waite deployed on short notice (within 48 hours) to support Task Force Tarawa in preparations for combat operations in the Middle East. As a result of his heroic actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V” for acts of valor on the battlefield – one of only a hand full of Chaplains on active duty today to hold such a distinction. While in this capacity, Brian was not only instrumental in negotiations with the third highest Shi’ite cleric in the world, but also had the great distinction of baptizing over 44 service members in the Tigris River on Easter Sunday 2003 (believed by many to be the largest Christian Baptism in this region for the past several centuries).
Prior to these assignments, Chaplain Waite had served previously as a Navy Chaplain from 1992 to 1996. In December of 1996, he left active duty to pastor a church in the area of Dallas, Texas. During this sabbatical from active duty, Chaplain Waite became the Senior Pastor of a 3,600 member church and a highly sought after speaker on a variety of subjects ranging from theology to crisis response. Largely due to the events of 9/11, Dr. Waite felt compelled to return to active duty as a United States Navy Chaplain, sensing an overwhelming obligation to serve both his country, as well as God.
He holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies, a M.Div. in Biblical Languages (Hebrew and Greek), a M.B.A. in International Relations (Middle East emphasis), a D.Min. in Religious Studies, and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology. Chaplain Waite has also served in the post-doctoral studies program of the University of South Africa, as well as lectured and taught at numerous Universities and Institutions of Higher Learning around the World. Further more, he holds diplomat status with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and the position of certified “Field Traumatologist” with the International Traumatology Institute at the University of South Florida.
Brian is an author, speaker, educator, minister, chaplain, and most importantly – husband and father. He is married to Kathy Pierce Waite and they have two teenage boys, Nick and Michael.
« Go back |
