CHAPLAIN (BRIGADIER GENERAL) ALPHONSE J. STEPHENSON

Director of the National Guard Joint Chaplain Corps and Air National Guard Assistant to the United States Air Force Chief of Chaplains

Chaplain (Brigadier General) Alphonse J. Stephenson serves as Director of the National Guard Joint Chaplain Corps where he directs, oversees, develops and implements joint activities of the National Guard Bureau, Office of the Chaplain for the Chief, National Guard Bureau. In addition, Chaplain Stephenson serves as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains, United States Air Force. In his capacity as the Director of the National Guard Bureau, Office of the Chaplain, Chaplain Stephenson serves as an advisor to the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, Office of the Secretary of Defense, on matters of religion, ethics ecclesiastical relations, spiritual care and quality-of-life. As the National Guard Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Chaplains, he provides advice on all aspects of the Air National Guard Chaplain Service to achieve maximum operational efficiency between active duty chaplain components and Air National Guard chaplain assets. Chaplain Stephenson is the primary advisor on religious, ethical, moral and morale issues to the 450,000 members of the National Guard and to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Moreover, he provides joint policies, guidance and programs to the 2,200 National Guard Chaplain Corps personnel, supporting federal and domestic missions. Chaplain Stephenson is Religious Affairs Advisor to the National Guard State Partnership Program.

Chaplain Stephenson was commissioned in the Air National Guard in 1989 and served as staff chaplain for the 170th Air Refueling Group, Wing Chaplain of the 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey and State Command Chaplain of the New Jersey National Guard. He first served at the National Guard Bureau as Director of Religious Affairs prior to assuming his present role.

EDUCATION:

1971 Saint Mary's College, Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Saint Mary, Kentucky
1974 Saint Mary's Seminary and University, Master of Divinity, Baltimore, Maryland
2004 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. December 1989 - December 1992, Staff Chaplain, 170th Air Refueling Group, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey
2. December 1992 - December 1998, Staff Chaplain, 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey
3. December 1998 - October 2002, Chief Chaplain, 108th Air Refueling Wing, New Jersey National Guard, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey
4. October 2002 - October 2003, Command Chaplain, Headquarters, New Jersey Air National Guard, Fort Dix, New Jersey
5. October 2003 - May 2010, New Jersey National Guard State Chaplain, Joint Forces Headquarters, Fort Dix, New Jersey
6. June 2010 - September 2011, Chief, Joint Chaplaincy Staff, Director of Religious Affairs, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
7. September 2011 - Present, Air National Guard Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, District of Columbia

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
Air Force Training Ribbon

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

Ordained a Catholic priest in 1975 for the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, Father Stephenson continues to serve as minister, educator and professional musician. The former conductor and music director of A CHORUS LINE at the Shubert Theatre in New York City, he is the founder of The Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea based in New Jersey, the only professional, union orchestra formed in the United States whose mission is to serve as a fundraising vehicle for charitable organizations. He is founder and president of The Cecelia Foundation, Inc, a non-profit foundation awarding professional quality musical instruments to promising, young talented students.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

2010 Monmouth University, Doctor of Music (honoris causa), Long Branch, New Jersey

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

First Lieutenant 21 December 1989
Captain 06 April 1991
Major 14 July 1995
Lieutenant Colonel 29 October 1999
Colonel 30 April 2004
Brigadier General 2 September 2011

(Current as of August 2012)