Chief of Chaplains and Deputy Chief of Chaplains

“To help support and provide spiritual leadership, avoidance of mission drift, guidance to the executive leadership team, training, personal, as well as professional development, and care for our ever-growing Chaplain Team Members now numbering 2,040, 60 field leaders, and over 40 National Care Center staff, Marketplace Chaplains is pleased to announce the creation of our first Office of the Chaplains. The Board has appointed Marketplace Chaplains’ first Chief of Chaplains, Bobby Page. Joining Chaplain Page will be our first Deputy Chief of Chaplains, George Youstra. These leaders will ensure our ministry remains on mission as we provide exceptional care for our staff so that we may extend care to the 1.2 million employees and family members we are privileged to serve,” Jason Brown, President and CEO

The Chief of Chaplains will report to Jason Brown, President and CEO
(Chaplains will continue to report to their Executive Director of Operations.)

Chief of Chaplains – Chaplain (Brigadier General) Bobby V. Page

Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Bobby V. Page was the Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters U. S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. As a member of the special staff of the Chief of Staff, Chaplain Page assisted the Chief of Chaplains in establishing guidance on all matters pertaining to the religious and moral welfare of Air Force personnel and their dependents and directing and maintaining a trained, equipped and professional Chaplain Corps of more than 2,200 chaplains and chaplain assistants from the active and Air Reserve components. As a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, he and other members advised the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical and quality-of-life concerns.

Chaplain Page was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Louisiana State University in 1973. He earned his wings at Mather Air Force Base, Calif. in 1975 and served as a navigator, instructor navigator and senior navigator for the Standards and Evaluation section. In January, 1980, he separated from the Air Force to attend Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas to fulfill a commitment to pastoral ministry. After graduation, he served pastorates in Arkansas and North Carolina from 1983 to 1989. During that time he also served as a chaplain in the Air National Guard in Arkansas and Georgia, then the Air Force Reserve in South Carolina. In July 1989 he returned to active duty and has served a variety of chaplain assignments at the wing, two major commands and Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

Chaplain Page has significant deployed experience serving as the wing chaplain at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, in 2000 and leading the largest chapel team in the Central Command area of responsibility during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In June, 2003, he established the first Air Force chaplain ministry at the Baghdad International Airport.

EDUCATION
1973 Bachelor of Arts in History, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
1975 Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather AFB, Calif.
1978 Master of Public Administration, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, Calif.
1983 Master of Divinity, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas
1990 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1994 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1997 Air Force Institute of Technology, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill.
1999 Doctor of Ministry, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill.
2001 Air War College, by seminar

ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1974 – March 1975, Student, undergraduate navigator training, Mather AFB, Calif.
2. March 1975 – June 1975, Student, KC-135 upgrade training, Castle AFB, Calif. 3. July 1975 – January 1980, Navigator, Instructor Navigator, Standards and Evaluation Senior Navigator, 307th Air Refueling Group, Travis AFB, Calif.
4. March 1985 – December 1986, Chaplain, 188th Fighter Wing, AR Air National Guard, Fort Smith, Ark.
5. January 1987 – June 1989, Chaplain, Air Force Reserve, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. July 1989 – July 1993, Chaplain, 475th Air Base Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan
7. July 1993 – July 1996, Senior Chaplain to Tech Training Airmen, 37th Training Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
8. August 1996 – June 1997, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill.
9. June 1997 – July 2000, Chief of Program Development, Office of the Command Chaplain, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
10. July 2000 – July 2003, Wing Chaplain, McGuire AFB, N.J.
11. September – December 2000, Wing Chaplain, deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia
12. February – July 2003, Wing Chaplain, deployed to PSAB and Baghdad International Airport
13. August 2003 – May 2004, Strategic and Professional Programs Officer, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
14. May 2004 – June 2006, Chief, Plans and Programs Division, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2006 – June 2009, Command Chaplain, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
16. June 2009 – July 2012, Command Chaplain, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB Texas 17.
17. July 2012 – 2016, Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and five oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Medal with one device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Longevity Service with five oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air Force Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 10, 1973
First Lieutenant Feb. 10, 1976
Captain Feb. 10, 1978
Captain (Revised) March 15, 1984
Major June 1, 1992
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 1999
Colonel Aug. 1, 2004
Brigadier General Aug. 2, 2012
Retired 2016

Deputy Chief of Chaplains – Chaplain (Colonel) George Youstra

Chaplain George Youstra served as the Command Chaplain, United States Special Operations Command. He was the principal and personal staff advisor to the CDRUSSOCOM, Directors, and headquarters staff in areas related to morale, ethics and spirituality. He also advised on the role and impact of religion in the strategic environment. He liaisoned with the Joint Staff Chaplain, Service Chiefs of Chaplains, component functional offices, interagency partners, and allied partner nations. He directed the strategic global application and integration of religious diplomacy, policies, special emphasis, training, and resources in the interagency and joint environment for USSOCOM. Chaplain Youstra oversaw and provided religious support guidance to all USSOCOM religious support teams (RSTs) and activities to include The Care for the Caregiver program. He integrated the Preservation of the Force and Families (POTFF) and Warrior Care Coalition Spiritual Performance

activities with chaplain-led or supported programs for service members, Wounded Warriors, DOD civilians and their families. He served as a key plank holder and integral member of the multidisciplinary team consisting of physical, psychological, spiritual, and social performance. He edited the first ever Special Operations Forces Field Ethics Guide for utilization in the SOCOM formations and the Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Post-vention Workbook & Training Program along with Moral Injury/PTSD training.

Chaplain Youstra was born in Greenville, South Carolina where he graduated from Bob Jones University in Greenville with a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education in 1982. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Anderson University School of Theology, Anderson, Indiana and the Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College. Prior to his posting as the Chief of the Leadership Division, Center for Character Development, at the United States Air Force Academy, Chaplain Youstra did intensive post graduate studies at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, St. Louis in character and leadership development theory. He is currently completing work on his doctorate. Chaplain Youstra is ordained and endorsed to the chaplaincy by the Charis Fellowship.

Chaplain Youstra spent the first 14 years of his military career in the United States Army where he was a Special Forces, Infantry, Military Policy Officer and Chaplain. In 1998, Chaplain Youstra entered active duty as an Air Force Chaplain. He has served at all levels of the Chaplain Corps from Group Chaplain, Senior Protestant Chaplain, Wing Chaplain, Numbered Air Force, and MAJCOM Staff Action Officer. Prior to his current posting, Chaplain Youstra was the Joint Staff Chaplain and chaplain to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this role he served as the only chaplain serving at the national strategic level advising the White House, Department of State, allies and interagency partners. His assignments have been: Keesler AFB, MS, Luke AFB, AZ, Kunsan AB, ROK, USAFA, CO, Beale AFB, CA, Ramstein AB, GE, the Pentagon, and USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, FL. Finally, he has deployed in support of operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Chaplain Youstra is married to the former Rose Workman from Normal, IL. They have two sons, George III, and Taylor.

CIVILIAN EDUCATION
1978 Diploma, Bob Jones Academy, Greenville, SC
1982 Bachelor of Science, Teaching Social Studies, Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC
1998 Master of Divinity, Marriage and Pastoral Counseling, Anderson University School of Theology, Anderson, IN 2006 Post-Graduate Study, Character and Leadership Development, University of Missouri/St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 2015 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2018 Doctor of Ministry, Erskine Seminary, Due West, SC (ABD, Dissertation in Progress)

MILITARY EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING
1983 U.S. Army Basic Military Training, Ft. Jackson, SC
1984 Advanced Individual Training, Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Warfare Specialist, Ft. McClellan, AL
1986 Officer Candidate School, South Carolina Army National Guard, Ft. Jackson, SC
1987 Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ft. Benning, GA
1987 Army Airborne School, Ft. Benning, GA
1988 Army Special Forces Qualification Course, Ft. Bragg, NC
1989 Army Military Police Officer Basic Course, Ft. McClellan, AL
1996 Army Chaplain Officer Basic Course
1998 Air Force Commissioned Officer Training, Gunter Annex, AL
1999 Air Force Chaplain Basic Course
1999 Squadron Officer School, (In-Residence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Air Command and Staff College (Air Force Institute of Technology, In-Residence Credit), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2011 Air War College (Distance Education), Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Air War College (In Residence), Maxwell AFB, AL

AIR FORCE ASSIGNMENTS
1998 – 2001       Protestant Chaplain, 81st Training Wing, Keesler AFB, MS
2001 – 2002       Group Chaplain, 56 Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, AZ
2002 – 2004       Senior Protestant Chaplain, 56 Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, AZ
2004 – 2005       Senior Protestant Chaplain, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
2005 – 2006       Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Missouri/St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
2006 – 2009       Chief, Character and Leadership Division, Center for Character Development, USAFA, CO
2009 – 2012       Wing Chaplain, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA
2012 – 2014       Staff Action Officer USAFE-USAFAFRICA, 3rd Air Force Chaplain, Ramstein AB, GE
2014 – 2015       Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 – 2018       Joint Staff Chaplain, Chief of Religious Affairs, Joint Staff, Pentagon, DC
2018 – 2021       Command Chaplain, HQ USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, FL

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal Army Achievement Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain, 1 November 1998
Major, 1 November 2003
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 December 2006
Colonel, 1 November 2015
Retired, 1 May 2021