REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Army Contracting Command recently welcomed its new command chaplain, Chap. (Lt. Col.) Charles "Chip" Fields.
A former Marine, the new chaplain received a master's of Divinity from the Baptist Bible Seminary in 1993 and a master's of Theology from Princeton Seminary in 2004.
During his last few months in the Marines, Fields felt God called him to serve in the ministry. After leaving the Marines in 1985, he entered the seminary immediately upon college graduation.
Because the Marines do not have chaplains, Fields was commissioned in the Army in 1993.
Most recently, he served as the chaplaincy resources manager at Fort Lee, Va., from 2007-2009 and as the brigade combat team chaplain for the 1st Brigade Combat Team at Fort Drum, N.Y., from 2009-2011.
Born in Bainbridge, Ga., Fields was raised in Alabama and welcomed the opportunity to move back to the area.
"When we moved into our home in Madison, we had multiple neighbors bring us baked goods," Fields said. "That's when I knew I was back in the South."
He said the favorite part of being a chaplain is getting to know people and knowing that he can assist them.
Fields understands that once people get a chance to talk, they always seem to leave the conversation feeling better.
Fields, who had always worked as a battalion chaplain before his assignment at ACC, has been querying other chaplains to prepare for the relationships with civilians and contractors.
"We are all one team," he said. "I want to be your pastor and I look forward to that relationship with you."
Anyone in need of the chaplain's services can contact him at (256) 955-8609. His office is located in building 3334H-105 on the ACC campus at Redstone Arsenal.
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