LCDR Donelson Thevenin, CHC, USN

Chaplain Donelson Thevenin

LCDR Donelson Thevenin is a native of Port Au Prince, Haiti where he attended primary and secondary school. After arriving in the United States, he went to Brooklyn College in NYC to major in Health and Science, and then later he transferred to Saint John’s University where he graduated with a BA in Philosophy. Desiring to serve both God and country, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy Chaplain Candidate Program on May 21, 2001.  He earned his MDiv. and a Master of Art in Theology in 2005 from The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception.  He was ordained a priest on June 3, 2005 for the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, NY.  After doing on the job training for about ten years, he was subsequently superseded to active duty service in January of 2012.

LCDR. Thevenin’ s civilian assignments prior to entering active duty include: Associate Pastor, Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, Brooklyn NY, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Cambria Heights, NY, Chaplain at Nazareth Regional High School, Brooklyn, NY. In addition, Chaplain Thevenin has led the Office of the Haitian Apostolate as its Coordinator in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queen covering 23 parishes with Haitian ministries. Furthermore, Chaplain Thevenin was one of the Masters of Ceremonies for one of the Auxiliary bishops in the diocese.

LCDR. Thevenin assumed his current position as 5th Battalion Chaplain at the US Naval Academy on 14 June 2024. Previous assignments include USS NIMITZ CVN68 (2022-2024) during this tour, deployed in the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility. Naval District Washington (2019-2022), he was assigned at the Arlington National Cemetery honoring the memories of those who served our nation. 2D MARDIV (2017-2019), assigned with 2/6 Marines, composited with 26 MEU, and deployed in the C5F AOR onboard USS IWO JIMA. Command Chaplain, Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan (2014-2016) enabled forward deployed US and Allied Forces while providing superior support to their families; Deputy Command Chaplain onboard USS BOXER LHD 4 (2012-2014). During this tour, Chaplain Thevenin went on a WESTPAC deployment from August 2013 to April 2014. 

LCDR Thevenin is a Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer and a Surface Chaplain Qualified Officer. His personal awards include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.