(Rear Adm.) Robert F. Burt
Chaplain Corps
Chief of Navy Chaplains

When he was a child no one would have dreamed that in 2006 Robert F. Burt would be appointed by the President of the United States as the Navy Chief of Chaplains. As a young boy, Robert (Bob) used to “borrow” scrap lumber from Wayside Open Bible’s church construction site in Springfield, Oregon, to build play forts. After a home visit from Wayside’s founder, Ray Rexius, Bob joined the Sunday school and faithfully attended thereafter.

Bob enlisted in the navy in 1970 and spent three years as a Communications Technician and three and one half years aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 630 as a Data Processor. After his honorable discharge in March of 1977, Bob completed his Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Eugene Bible College. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon, in May 1981.

As the Chief of Chaplain for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, Chaplain Burg is responsible for the vision and implementation of religious ministries within the Sea Services. He provides oversight and leadership for approximately 2,000 chaplains serving with the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Credentialed with Open Bible Churches, Robert was the first Chief of Chaplains of any of the military services ordained by a Pentecostal/charismatic church denomination and the first Chief of Chaplains from the National Association of Evangelicals Chaplains Commission.

Bob’s Bible school experience has been invaluable. “In my visits to Iraq and Afghanistan I have had the privilege of speaking to many marines and sailors and encouraging them to be strong in their faith,” he said. “Speaking at the Easter sunrise service in Al Asad in 2006 at a soccer stadium where just a few years before Saddam Hussein had the members of the Iraqi soccer team shot for losing at the Olympics, I was able to share with Marines, sailors, and U.S. civilians God’s plan for the ages to free us from the penalty and power of sin.”