Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) John F. Albert, deputy chief of chaplains, U.S. Air Force, assists the chief of chaplains, U.S. Air Force, in establishing and maintaining an effective chaplain program for Air Force personnel and their families. He recommends basic plans, policies, programs and requirements for the chaplaincy and performs a continuing analysis of personnel and resource needs essential for effective support of the chaplain program.
Chaplain Albert was born in Rochester, N.Y., in 1915, where he graduated from Holy Cross Grammar School; St. Andrew's Seminary, in 1935; and St. Bernard's Seminary, in 1941, with a bachelor of arts degree.
He was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Rochester, June 7, 1941, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rochester, and for the next four years served as assistant pastor of St. Mary's Church in Corning, N.Y.
Chaplain Albert entered the U.S. Army by direct commission as a chaplain in March 1945, and attended Chaplains School at Fort Devens, Mass., and then Fort Lee, Va. After serving three years in the Philippine Islands, he was assigned in June 1948 to Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, as assistant wing chaplain, 7th Bombardment Wing. He transferred to the U.S. Air Force when it became a separate organization of the Armed Forces of the United States.
He served as chaplain at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, November 1950-July 1952; Loring Air Force Base, Maine, August 1952-January 1955; West Drayton, East Kirkby, and Lakenheath Royal Air Force Stations in England, February 1955-March 1958; Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., April 1958-November 1959; Naha Air Base, Okinawa, December 1959-July 1961; Lackland Air Force Base, Texas August 1961-June 1962 and Headquarters Aerospace Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colo., July 1962-May 1965. He became command chaplain for Alaska Air Command and Alaskan Command, a joint Air Force, Army and Navy command, at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, June 1965-January 1967; and served as command chaplain, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., February 1967-July 1970.
Chaplain Albert assumed the duties of deputy chief of chaplains, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, in August 1970. In June 1969 Chaplain Albert was elevated to the rank of Monsignor by Pope Paul VI, in recognition of his dedicated service as a military chaplain.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster and Army Commendation Medal. His hometown is Rochester, N.Y.
He was promoted to the temporary grade of brigadier general effective June 1, 1970, with date of rank May 26, 1970.
(Current as of Aug. 1, 1970)