An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Marines


Biography

 

Captain Frank T Rupnik III
Deputy Force Chaplain
MARINE FORCES RESERVE / MARINE FORCES SOUTH

A native of Troy, Ohio, Captain Rupnik Enlisted into Active Duty in the United States Navy in 1997 as an Intelligence Specialist. After graduating first in his class from the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, he was assigned to the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT CVN-71 in Norfolk, VA. While there, he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in support of OPERATION ALLIED FORCE/OPERATION NOBLE ANVIL and to the Arabian Gulf in support of OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH. He was selected as Junior Sailor of the Quarter and was Honorably Discharged as an Intelligence Specialist Second Class in 2001.

Rupnik has earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Political Science and Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Excelsior College and a Masters of Divinity and Doctorate in Ministry from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has also graduated from the U.S. Army War College with a Masters of Strategic Studies Degree, and JPME Level 1 and 2.

He was Commissioned into the Chaplain Candidate Program in 2002 as an Ensign and was Commissioned into the Navy Reserves as a Chaplain in 2005, where he was assigned to MEFREL (Marine Expeditionary Forces Religious Unit) 105 in Columbus, OH, supporting MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) Parris Island, SC. He was mobilized to Active Duty to serve as an Individual Augmentee in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. Captain Rupnik’s next assignment was Battalion Chaplain for 4th Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, Detroit, Michigan, where he earned his Fleet Marine Force Officer Qualification. Rupnik was then assigned to the Midwest Regional Operations Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was mobilized again to serve as the Care Team Department Head for the Warrior Transition Program in Sembach, Germany. His next assignment was to serve as the Deputy Force Chaplain for Marine Forces Command, where he supported the overall strategic vision of Religious Ministry in the Marine Corps. He then became the Deputy Fleet Chaplain for SURFLANT in Norfolk, followed by serving as the Fleet Chaplain at Second Fleet. He is currently mobilized as the Deputy Force Chaplain for MARFORRES/MARFORSOUTH.

Awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy Achievement Medal, the Distinguished Service Award as the Navy Reserve Chaplain of the Year, and numerous campaign ribbons. United States military badges and qualifications include the Fleet Marine Force Officer Qualification, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. Foreign Decorations include the Afghan National Army Letter of Commendation, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), and Belgian Armed Forces Fitness Badge (Gold). Chaplain Rupnik is an Ordained Minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is currently serving as the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Troy, OH.