# Thomas L. Solhjem

Thomas Lynn Solhjem (born 1956) is an active United States Army major general who last served as the 25th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. Solhjem is the first ordained Assemblies of God minister to attain the position.

## Education

Solhjem received a Bachelors of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries from North Central University in 1982. He completed a Masters of Divinity with Bethel Theological Seminary in 1988, and holds a second master's degree in Military Strategic Studies.

## Military career

Solhjem began his military career in 1974 with the 82nd Combat Engineer Battalion. After serving on active duty for two years, he transferred to the Army Reserve, where he remained for fourteen years. After finishing his Masters of Divinity, he accessioned as an active duty chaplain in 1988.
Solhjem has given direct religious support to soldiers, totaling more than 68 months in combat zones. Prior to his appointment as the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, he served in various key leadership positions to include United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), Command Chaplain, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as well as Command Chaplain, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Florida.
In July 2015, Solhjem was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as the 25th Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. In May 2019, Colonel William Green Jr., an African American Baptist minister, was nominated to succeed him as Deputy Chief of Chaplains. On May 31, 2019, Solhjem was promoted to major general and assigned as the 25th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army.
As the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Solhjem served as the chief strategist for the United States Army Chaplain Corps and senior coordinating general officer for actions assigned to Assistant Chiefs of Chaplains (Reserve Component) and the USACHCS Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. As a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, he and other members advise the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical and quality-of-life concerns.

## Awards and decorations

* Combat Action Badge
* Master Parachutist Badge
* Ranger Tab
* Army Staff Identification Badge
* 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
* Silver German Parachutist Badge
* U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia
* 10 Overseas Service Bars
* Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
* Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
* Defense Meritorious Service Medal
* Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
* Joint Service Commendation Medal
* Army Commendation Medal
* Joint Service Achievement Medal
* Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
* Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
* Valorous Unit Award
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
* Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with four service stars
* Iraq Campaign Medal with four service stars
* Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Korea Defense Service Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze Hourglass device
* Army Service Ribbon
* Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 5
* NATO Medal for service with ISAF
* Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
* Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)