House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has appointed Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben as House Chaplain, making her the first woman ever to take this role, Pelosi’s office announced Thursday.
The appointment comes following former House Chaplain Father Pat Conroy’s retirement, a press release from the Speaker’s office stated. (RELATED: Biden Names First-Ever Female Deputy Secretary Of Defense)
“Kibben brings decades of decorated experience in the military and the ministry, as a retired Rear Admiral who served as the U.S. Navy’s Chief Chaplain and the Chaplain of the Marine Corps. Her integrity, experience and patriotism will serve the Congress and the Country well, as she ministers to the needs of Members,” Pelosi said.
It is my honor to announce the appointment of Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben to serve as Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. Her integrity, experience and patriotism will serve the Congress and the Country well. https://t.co/JmpTA4coCP
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 31, 2020
Kibben, a Goucher College, Princeton, and Naval War College graduate, began active duty in 1986 through the Navy’s Theological Student Program, according to the release.
In 2014, she was appointed as the first female and 26th U.S. Navy Chief Chaplain; she served until 2018, CNN reported.
Pearl Harbor survivor Delton Walling talks with U.S. Navy Admiral Margaret Kibben before a ceremony honoring the sailors of the USS Utah at the memorial on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii December 6, 2016. (Photo Credits: REUTERS/Hugh Gentry)
Before that, according to CNN, she had worked as the 18th Chaplain of the Marine Corps starting 2010, and as the Navy’s Deputy Chief of Chaplains. She was the first woman to hold both these roles.
“This historic appointment was made possible by the values-based leadership of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and I thank him and all Members of the bipartisan group leading the search – Representatives Eshoo, Price, Connolly, Moolenaar, Luetkemeyer, McMorris Rodgers and Stauber – for their successful work,” Pelosi further said, according to the release.
She also thanked former Chaplain Conroy in the announcement for being “a blessing to Members on both sides of the aisle” who served as “a spiritual and moral anchor for Members, grounding our institution in the values of faith and country and reminding our Members of our responsibilities to our great nation and constituents.”