Award-winning chapel staff in place at Nellis Published Dec. 8, 2010 By Chaplain (Capt.) James Galyon Nellis Base Chapel NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- As you look around the Nellis Air Force Base chapel facilities, you will notice some drastic changes: a new fellowship area is under construction and four new chaplains and two new chaplain assistants have arrived since June. The new Wing Chaplain, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Walter Bean, who arrived in June from Alconbury, Great Britain, is excited about his staff, stating, "We essentially have a new team, a wide variety of great experience, and a great attitude. I'm looking forward to the ministries within the Nellis-Creech community." Chaplain Bean's new team includes the new Senior Protestant Chaplain, Chaplain (Maj.) Julian Gaither. Recognized for his outstanding service as the 2009 Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency Chaplain of the Year while at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Chaplain Gaither executes the 57th Adversary Tactics Group commander's religious support program, serves as the unit chaplain for the Thunderbirds, and pastors the gospel service at 8:00 a.m. Sunday. He is joined by Chaplain (Capt.) James Galyon, who pastors the traditional service at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, and is the unit chaplain for the 57th Fighter Wing, the Weapons School, and the Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer School. Chaplain Galyon was named the 2009 Air Combat Command Company Grade Chaplain of the Year, and earned the 2010 Air Force Association's Outstanding Chaplain Corps Award at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Also new to Nellis is Chaplain (1st Lt.) Aaron Thorne, who has been designated as the chaplain for the 99th Medical Group, the 53rd Test Wing, the 66th and 58th Rescue Squadrons, and the 820th RED HORSE Squadron. He brings a decade of ministerial experience with him to his first assignment. He pastors the contemporary service at 6:00 p.m. Sunday and directs the Samek Airman's Ministry Center. The new chaplains are united with Chaplain (Capt.) Paul Amaliri, Nellis' Roman Catholic priest who holds three master's degrees and is completing a Doctorate of Ministry in pastoral counseling, and Chaplain (Capt.) Andrew Suh. The new chaplain assistants include Tech. Sergeants Tom Tipton and Steven Kim. Sergeant Tipton will take over responsibilities as the chapel superintendent in the spring. Prior to becoming a chaplain assistant, he served in Security Forces. He received the Air Force Materiel Command's Charles R. Meier Award in 2004 and again in 2006 for his outstanding service as an NCO chaplain assistant. Sergeant Kim, who cross-trained this year to become a chaplain assistant, previously served as a Tactical Air Control Party member. These new religious support team members join current Superintendent, Tech. Sgt. Lidia Beach, and Staff Sgt. Charles Woford, who provides support for more than 75 chapel programs, including the ministries at the Samek Airman's Ministry Center. The U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps establishes and implements spiritual support pursuant to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, thereby guarding every Airman's freedom of religion. At Nellis, Chaplain Bean oversees the pastoral care and spiritual support which is provided to more than 10,000 U.S. military members and their families, regardless of faith background. All chaplains advise commanders in regard to ethics, morale and religious accommodation, while also providing spiritual support, including absolute confidentiality in counseling. Chaplain Bean has already set the vision for his team in providing warrior care, utilizing a three-pronged approach. He indicated that warrior care will be provided through parish-based programs, the Airman's Ministry Center, and unit-centered programs, all of which are designed to take care of warriors and their families. When you visit or call the chapel office at 652-2950, you will be greeted by Johanna Pike. Every member of the Nellis Chapel staff stands ready to support Airmen and their families. If they can be of any service to you, please call. For emergencies after duty hours, please call the Command Post at 652-2446 and request the chaplain duty officer.
