CDR Marlin Williams, CHC, USN
US Naval Academy Deputy Command Chaplain
Chaplain Marlin Williams
Chaplain Williams is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Counseling from Arkansas Tech University, a Master of Divinity from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theology in Ethics from Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1999, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as an infantryman and served as Platoon Sergeant, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, with multiple activations. He entered the Navy Chaplain Candidate Program in 2004 and was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy IRR. In 2008, he received an active-duty commission as a
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) in the Navy Chaplain Corps.
Since commissioning, Chaplain Williams has served in a wide range of sea, shore, and joint billets. Afloat, he served aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during RCOH as Division Officer and Primary Assistant, leading a $4M Religious Ministry space overhaul and deploying in support of Operation Southern Seas – Haiti (2008–2010). Ashore, he served as Battalion Chaplain to 2d Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, including deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (2010–2013). He later reported to U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan (2013–2016), supporting the Coast Guard’s largest operational AOR.
In 2016, Chaplain Williams was selected for graduate education at Princeton Theological Seminary, earning a ThM in Ethics. He subsequently reported to the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (2017–2021), where he served as Director of Professional Development and Instructor for the Basic Leadership Course—training newly accessioned Navy chaplains and RPs and shaping strategic curriculum for worldwide DON implementation. He then served as Group Chaplain, Marine Aircraft Group 12, Iwakuni, Japan (2021–2022), realigning religious ministry coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain operational readiness across the FDNF construct. In January 2023, he reported to USS George Washington (CVN 73), serving as Command Chaplain and CTF-70 Strike Group Chaplain—successfully completing RCOH, a two-carrier hull swap, Operation Southern Seas (2024), and homeport
shift to the 7th Fleet AOR. He currently serves as Deputy Command Chaplain and an adjunct professor of Ethics at the United States Naval Academy (January 2025–present).
Chaplain Williams' personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), the Humanitarian Service Medal, and various unit and campaign decorations. He holds additional qualification designators as a Surface Chaplain Officer and a Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer.
