Chaplain (Brigadier General) Jeremiah J. Rodell is the deputy chief of chaplains, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He assists the chief of chaplains in establishing and maintaining an effective total chaplain program to meet the religious needs of all members of the Air Force.
Chaplain Rodell was born in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1921. He grew up in Chicago, Ill., and graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Chicago. He attended St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Ill., from 1940 to 1947 and graduated with a master of arts degree.
On June 5, 1947, Chaplain Rodell was ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago and served as a parish priest on Chicago's West Side from June 1947 to December 1955.
Chaplain Rodell entered active military service in December 1955. For the next 18 years, he served stateside military parishes at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.; March Air Force Base, Calif.; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; and Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. During this some period, his overseas assignments included Naha Air Base, Okinawa; Ankara, Turkey; Clark Air Base Philippines; Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand; and Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany.
In 1973, Chaplain Rodell was assigned to Headquarters Aerospace Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colo., as chief of Catholic plans and programs. In 1975, he was transferred to the Personnel Division, Office of the Chief of Chaplains.
Chaplain Rodell assumed the position of deputy chief of chaplains on Aug. 1, 1978.
His military decorations and awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
Chaplain Rodell has served for three years on the Advisory Council to the Military Vicar, Terence Cardinal Cooke. In 1978, he became the chairman of the Action Committee to the Advisory Council. Since 1974 he has been active in the worldwide Marriage Encounter movement.
Chaplain Rodell's hobbies include tennis, sailing, painting and swimming.
He was promoted to the grade of brigadier general on Dec. 1, 1978, with the same date of rank.
(Current as of March 2021)