Louis Iasiello Rear Admiral Fr . Louis V . Iasiello , USN ( born 6 September 1950 ) is a retired American Navy officer who served as the 23rd Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from 2003 to 2006 . He is a well known Just War theorist , and his PhD dissertation is entitled : Jus In Bello : Key Issues for a Contemporary Assessment of Just Behavior in War . For 18 months after his retirement from the Navy , he was the president of Washington Theological Union . He accepted a position as a Professor of Humanities at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus , Ohio , in 2010 . Background and education . Iasiello grew up in Staten Island , New York . He is an alumnus of St . Bonaventure University ( 1972 ) , with a bachelor ' s degree in History . He has earned graduate degrees from Niagara University ( Education ) ( 1973 ) , the Washington Theological Union ( Divinity ) ( 1977 ) , Salve Regina College ( International Relations ) ( 2003 ) , the Naval War College ( National Security and Strategic Studies , and a PhD from Salve Regina University . Career . Iasiello was received into the Order of Friars Minor in August , 1973 and is a member of the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province . After his ordination as a deacon , he worked in Anapolis , Brazil . He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 May 1978 , and was assigned to a Franciscan parish serving the Hispanic community in the Bronx . He then became the head of the Modern Languages department at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo , New York . Military and Post - military Career . Iasiello was commissioned as a Navy Chaplain Lieutenant ( Junior Grade ) in the Naval Reserves in 1981 and was recalled to active duty July 1983 . His active duty assignments include : Naval Air Station , Memphis ( 83 – 85 ) ; U . S . Coast Guard , Kodiak , Alaska ( 85 – 86 ) ; USS " Ranger " ( CV - 61 ) deployed in Operation Earnest Will , and in other deployments to Korea and the Persian Gulf ( 86 – 87 ) ; Second Marine Division ; ( 8th Marine Regiment , 2nd Marine Regiment , Marine Forces Panama ) including two deployments to Norway , Operation Just Cause , Panama , and with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit , Special Operations Capable ( MEU SOC ) ( 87 – 90 ) . Other assignments include : Naval War College Command and Staff , distinguished military graduate ( 90 – 91 ) ; United States Naval Academy , staff and faculty ( 91 – 94 ) ; Joint Task Force 160 ( Cuba and Haiti ) ; Armed Forces Staff College ( 94 ) ; Assistant Fleet Chaplain , U . S . Atlantic Fleet and Deputy Chaplain , U . S . Atlantic Command ( 94 – 97 ) ; Director for Operational Ministry , Atlantic Fleet ( 97 – 98 ) ; and Director , Naval Chaplains School ( 98 - 00 ) . After selection to flag rank , Iasiello became the first Chaplain Corps flag officer to be appointed Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps ( 00 - 03 ) . He has served on a Defense Task Force and has lectured at a number of the military ' s war and staff colleges . The Senate confirmed his appointment as the 23rd Chief of Navy Chaplains , July 2003 . He retired October 2006 and assumed the duties of President of the Washington Theological Union . Admiral Iasiello then served as Co - Chair of the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services from 2008 through 2010 . He has served on numerous boards and advisory councils , including the Board of Advisors of the Institute on Religion and Public Policy . He is currently on the board of the Franciscan Monastery of the HolyLand , Washington , DC . He is now Professor of Humanities and Director of Human Formation at the Pontifical College Josephinum , Columbus , Ohio . Personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit ( Gold Star in lieu of second award ) , the Defense Meritorious Service Medal , the Meritorious Service Medal ( three awards ) ; Navy / Marine Corps Commendation Medal ( two awards ) , Coast Guard Commendation Medal ; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ; the Combat Action Ribbon and numerous other unit and service citations and awards . In 1999 , as a Navy Chaplain , Iasiello assisted at the burials at sea of John F . Kennedy , Jr . , his wife , Carolyn Bessette , and her sister , Lauren Bessette . Publications . Iasiello has been published in numerous periodicals and books , most recently in the Naval War College Review ( Summer / Fall 04 ) : Jus Post Bellum : Moral Obligations of the Victors of War . ; “ Betrayal of Trust : David and Bathsheba Revisited . ” New Theology Review Volume 21 , Number 2 , May 2008 .