RDML Mark L. Tidd 

Rear Admiral Mark L. Tidd, CHC, USN, is the 17th Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps and is the Deputy Chief of Navy Chaplains.

Born in Hawaii to a career Navy family, Chaplain Tidd graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., in 1977. In 1983 he graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Ca., with a Masters of Divinity, and was ordained by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He reported to his first active duty station, Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Ca., in July 1983 for service with Patrol Wing TEN. Two years later he was assigned as ship's chaplain on USS REEVES (CG-24), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. He deployed to the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf, and made several deployments to the South China Seas and the waters off of the east coast of the Soviet Union. In November 1986, REEVES visited Qingdao, China, as part of the first port visit by U.S. warships to that country in 39 years.

Chaplain Tidd was sent to Princeton Theological Seminary for postgraduate study, and in May 1988 he graduated with a Masters of Theology. In June 1988, Chaplain Tidd reported to 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He served for two years as battalion chaplain for 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, participating in desert, mountain, and cold weather training, and deploying to Okinawa. He was then assigned to the staff of the Division Chaplain, and deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation DESERT STORM.

From May 1991 to July 1992 Chaplain Tidd was assigned to Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Va., and served as the chaplain for the Marine Corps Brig and the Base Security Battalion. In August 1992 Chaplain Tidd was a student at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, graduating in June 1993. He was then assigned to the staff of the Chief of Chaplains in Washington, D.C., as the Branch Head for Professional Development and Religious Programs, overseeing training and education for Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists, as well as the Navy's CREDO program.

In July 1996, Chaplain Tidd reported to USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71), deploying to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf. During that assignment he completed Joint Professional Military Education II at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va. In August 1998 he reported to the Naval Chaplains School in Newport, R.I., as the Advanced Training Officer.

In June 2001 Chaplain Tidd was assigned as the Force Chaplain for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the Fleet Chaplain for U.S. FIFTH Fleet, headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He coordinated the provision of religious ministry for all naval forces in the region during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. In January 2004 he reported for duty as the Division Chaplain for 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C., deploying in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from February to July 2005. In July 2006, after graduating with distinction from the National War College in Washington, D.C., with a Masters of Science in National Security Strategy, Chaplain Tidd reported to U.S European Command as Command Chaplain.

Chaplain Tidd’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with one gold star, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with three gold stars.