Donald L. Rutherford

For persons of a similar name, see Donald Rutherford (disambiguation).

The Very Reverend Donald L. Rutherford
Official portrait of CH (MG) Rutherford, 2011
Born	(1955-08-04) 4 August 1955 (age 69) Kinderhook, New York, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army Army Reserve (1977‍–‍1990)
Years of service	1977–2015
Rank	Major general
Commands	U.S. Army Chaplain Corps (CCH)
Battles / wars	Gulf War War on terror Iraq War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal (5)
Alma mater	University at Albany (BA) University of Rochester (MDiv) U.S. Army War College (MSS)
Church	Catholic (Latin Church)
Orders
Ordination	1981 by  Howard Hubbard

Donald L. Rutherford (born 4 August 1955) is an American Army officer and a Roman Catholic priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany who served as the 23rd Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army.

Biography

Rutherford attended the State University of New York, where he was a member of the ROTC program. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology. After receiving a delay of duty so that he could enter priestly formation at Saint Bernard's Seminary, Rutherford was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Albany in 1981. After ordination, he served in the United States Army Reserves as chaplain to the 364th General Hospital. He entered active duty in 1990. ^[1]

Rutherford served in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Hurricane Andrew Relief, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as chaplain to United States Army Europe and the 7th Army, Camp Victory, XVIII Airborne Corps, the 3rd Infantry Division, and the 82nd Airborne Division. ^[1]

On 18 February 2011, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that Rutherford was nominated for promotion to major general and assignment of Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. ^[2] He assumed this role on 7 July 2011. ^{[3] [1]} He was succeeded by Paul K. Hurley on 22 May 2015. ^[4]

He currently serves as the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Albany. ^[5]

Awards and decorations

Rutherford's awards and decorations include: ^[1]

	Combat Action Badge
	Basic Parachutist Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge
	82nd Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge
	U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia
	4 Overseas Service Bars

	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Legion of Merit (with two bronze oak leaf clusters)
	Bronze Star
	Meritorious Service Medal (with four bronze oak leaf clusters)
	Army Commendation Medal
	Army Achievement Medal
	Army Presidential Unit Citation
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Valorous Unit Award
	Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
	National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal (with two bronze service stars)
	Iraq Campaign Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	Armed Forces Reserve Medal
	Army Service Ribbon
	Overseas Service Ribbon
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

See also

• Armed Forces Chaplains Board
• Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States

References

1. "Biography of Chaplain (Major General) Donald L. Rutherford" (PDF). United States Army. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
2. Carleton Birch, OCCH (February 18, 2011). "Deputy Chief of Chaplains nominated for second star". www.army.mil. United States Army . Retrieved February 28, 2011.
3. Chelsea Place, Pentagram Newspaper (July 22, 2011). "Rutherford assumes role as chief of Army chaplains". www.army.mil. United States Army . Retrieved July 25, 2011.
4. Julia LeDoux, Pentagram Staff Writer (May 28, 2015). "Hurley installed as new Army chief of chaplains, pins on two stars". www.army.mil. United States Army . Retrieved June 24, 2015.
5. "Vicar for the Clergy". Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. Archived from the original on Sep 6, 2024.

External links

• U.S. Army biography
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Military offices
Preceded by Douglas L. Carver	Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army 2008–2011	Succeeded by Charles R. Bailey
Preceded by Douglas L. Carver	Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army 2011–2015	Succeeded by Paul K. Hurley