HEIDELBERG, Germany " Chaplain (Col.) Ray Bailey, the U.S. Army Europe command chaplain was promoted to brigadier general during a ceremony at Campbell Barracks July 7.
Bailey, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, will shortly assume duties as the deputy chief of chaplains for the U.S. Army. There are only two chaplain general officer positions in the Active Army. The latest two were serving as the USAREUR command chaplain when they were promoted to brigadier general.
“There is a strong tradition of spiritual leadership and strength from the Chaplain Corps in USAREUR,” said Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, the USAREUR commanding general.
Bailey conducted events with senior chaplains from the U.K., Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Kosovo, said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Mitchell Lewis, the USAREUR deputy command chaplain. He also created a council of senior chaplains across Europe to improve religious support services, and he introduced new ideas to the chaplains office, such as “The Journey” on AFN and the "Ask the Chaplain" website.
Bailey earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Religion from Texas Wesleyan University and a Master of Divinity from Texas Christian University. He was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church in 1981.
“I know he is the guy that can do it,” Hertling said regarding Bailey and his next assignment. “It was an absolute honor to promote him. The Army will be well served having him as the deputy chief of chaplains.”
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