LCDR Curtiss Dwyer, CHC, USN

Chaplain Dwyer was ordained a Catholic Priest for the Archdiocese of Denver in 2005 and served 18 months in a parish before being named Director of Pastoral Formation at Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary. He was on the seminary faculty for five years before entering active duty in 2012. 

Father Dwyer earned a Bachelor’s of Science in engineering (Civil and Mechanical options) from the Colorado School of Mines in 1993. He subsequently entered seminary at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver from which he earned both a Bachelor’s in Sacred Theology (STB) and a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.), graduating Summa cum Laude in 2005. He graduated Naval Chaplaincy School in 2012. 

He was Command Religious Ministry Department Division Officer on the USS CARL  VINSON (CVN 70) from 2012-2015, completing a WESTPAC deployment August 2014 to  May 2015. Chaplain Dwyer’s subsequent Marine Corps tours were as Command Chaplain at The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico from 2015-2019, and Deputy Command  Chaplain of Marine Aircraft Group 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar from 2019-2021.  He deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit as Air Combat Element Chaplain from  October 2020-May 2021. On both deployments he was the only Roman Catholic Chaplain and  so traveled extensively between associated ships. In October 2021 Chaplain Dwyer reported to  the US Naval Academy and currently serves as the Lead Battalion Chaplain.

Chaplain Dwyer is Fleet Marine Force qualified and his personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (2) and the Navy Achievement Medal.