USAF Chaplain, Colonel (Ret) Steven E. West currently serves as the Director of Chaplaincy for the National Association of Evangelicals. He served in the Air Force and Army for 41 years, retiring from his distinguished career as senior chaplain for Joint Base Langley/Eustis.
Dr. West is the author of “The Bronze Scar: Understanding How PTSD Feels to Help Victims and Those Who Support Them.” Throughout his life and career, Steve has been dedicated to caregiving. He served as an emergency medical technician, police officer, military chaplain, pastor, and hospital chaplain.
Chaplain West is a graduate of the University of Mobile, New Orleans Theological Seminary. He continued his study of theology and earned a Master of Divinity degree in Psychology and Counseling from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy, from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at the University of Nebraska, and a Doctor of Ministry degree at Alabama Theological Seminary, Northport, Alabama.
His active-duty career began during the Vietnam era. During that time, he served at home and away in many branches of service (Army, National Guard, Air Force). He was deployed to Andoya, Norway; Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Taegu, Korea; and Operation Iraqi Freedom as Wing Chaplain at Balad Air Base, Iraq, 2007-2008. Notably, his chaplaincy included service to the White House Communications Agency and two Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Upon his retirement in 2015, Steve was the last military member to retire from active-duty Air Force as a chaplain.
Over the course of his storied career, Colonel West was recognized with many Honors and Awards, including:
2008 Air Force Association Chaplain Corps Award for the best chaplain ministry in the Air Force; Bronze Star; AF Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters; Joint Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal with star; Iraq Campaign Medal with star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; AF Commendation Medal; AF Achievement Medal.
Colonel (Ret) Steven E. West serves as Retreat Chaplain for Veteran Retreats Foundation Fellowship Retreats. While sharing his personal testimony of living with and managing PTSD, Chappy inspires and supports each participant through their healing journey. He is physically and spiritually present, holding space on the retreat to offer comfort and courage.
