CNAL Force Chaplain
Capt. Matt S. Weems
Chaplain Weems grew up in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served as a Radioman before being honorably discharged. He graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts and received a Master of Divinity from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Chaplain Weems was commissioned into the U.S. Navy in April of 2002.
His operational tours include battalion chaplain, Third Battalion Fourth Marines, First Marine Division Detachment, Twentynine Palms, CA, which he deployed with in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning from deployment, he served as battalion chaplain, Third Battalion Eleventh Marines. Following that tour, he served as ship’s chaplain aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1). He served as the Group Chaplain Expeditionary Strike Group 7 and as Command Chaplain aboard USS America (LHA 6), in Sasebo, Japan. In that role, he served as the Wing Chaplain, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan.
His tours ashore include Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Weapons Field Training Battalion (Edson Range), Camp Pendleton, where he served as a battalion chaplain. He served as Station Chaplain, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. He served as an instructor aboard the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Chaplain Weems most recently served as the junior detailer, for the Navy Chaplain Corps aboard the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee.
He currently serves as Force Chaplain for Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, in Norfolk, Virginia.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards). He holds additional qualification designators for Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer, Master Training Specialist and Joint Professional Military Education Phase 1.