# Howard D. Stendahl

Howard Douglas Stendahl (born August 1, 1951) is the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force, promoted to Major General with an effective date of August 2, 2012. He was officially promoted and installed as the Air Force Chief of Chaplains at a ceremony held at Bolling Air Force Base on August 31, 2012.

## Early life

Born and reared in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Stendahl was ordained in 1977 into the ministry of The American Lutheran Church now a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He studied Clinical Pastoral Education and served as a parish pastor in Texas and Wisconsin before entering the Air Force Chaplain Service in 1985.

## Education

According to Stendahl's official U.S. Air Force bio, his education includes:
* 1973 Bachelor of Arts, Hamline University, St. Paul Minn.
* 1977 Master of Divinity, Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul Minn.
* 1988 Squadron Officer School (Residence)
* 1994 Doctor of Ministry, Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend Ind.
* 1995 Air Command and Staff College (Residence)
* 2001 Air War College (Seminar)
* 2004 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College (Residence)

## Military assignments

Stendahls's past assignments, prior to his promotion to brigadier general and assignment as U.S. Air Force deputy chief of chaplains, included:
* 1985 - Chaplain, Basic Military Training School, Permanent Party Chapel, Lackland AFB TX
* 1988 - Protestant Chaplain, Shaw AFB SC (deployed to Al Dhafra AB, UAE 1990-91)
* 1991 - Chaplain to Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
* 1994 - Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
* 1995 - Senior Protestant Chaplain, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
* 1997 - Command Staff Chaplain, U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart-Vaihingen GE
* 1999 - Senior Staff Chaplain, HQ Air Force Recruiting Service, Randolph AFB, Texas
* 2002 - Wing Chaplain, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
* 2003 - Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
* 2004 - Director, USAF Chaplain Service Institute, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
* 2006 - Command Chaplain, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
* 2009 - Command Chaplain, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.

## Personal

In the 2024 United States presidential election, Stendahl endorsed Kamala Harris.

## Awards and honors

Stendahl's numerous military awards include:
| Badge | Air Force Christian Chaplain Badge | Air Force Christian Chaplain Badge | Air Force Christian Chaplain Badge |
| 1st row | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster |
| 2nd row | Bronze Star | Defense Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters |
| 3rd row | Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three oak leaf clusters |
| 4th row | Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster | National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star | Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars |
| 5th row | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal with service star | Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short with oak leaf cluster |
| 6th row | Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long | Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters | Recruiting Service Ribbon |
| 7th row | Air Force Training Ribbon | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
| Badge | Headquarters Air Force badge | Headquarters Air Force badge | Headquarters Air Force badge |
* Doctor of Divinity, Honoris Causa, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University, May 24, 2014.