Air Force names first woman as top chaplain

Christian Century, July 4, 2001

In a first for any American military branch, a woman has been named chief of chaplains for the U.S. Air Force. Lorraine K. Potter, an American Baptist minister who reached the rank of major general on June 1, replaced Major General William Dendinger when he retired April 5.

Air Force spokesman Captain Eric Knapp said that in her post Potter directs and trains more than 2,350 active duty, guard and reserve chaplains and support personnel in the chaplain service. "I am proud to be part of this diverse, pluralistic, multicultural, multiethnic ministry," Potter told the American Baptist News Service.

Last year, officials of the African Methodist Episcopal Church asked the Air Force to reinvestigate an alleged racist statement by Potter, but the Air Force, which determined the complaint was "unsubstantiated," considered the investigation closed.

When she was named brigadier general in 1999, Potter became the first woman chaplain to achieve the rank of general officer in any of the armed services. She also was named deputy chief of the chaplain service that year.

Said Potter: "My call is to be a `fellow traveler' with those challenged by the frailties and struggles of life--offering hope and the presence of God."