Navy Chief of Chaplains, Rear Adm. Margaret G. Kibben visited aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) to meet with chaplains and religious ministries personnel currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Nov. 10.

Kibben, the first female Navy chief of chaplains and first female two-star Navy chaplain, met with the chaplains assigned to the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG) to see firsthand how their religious ministries program was faring.

"In my position, I deal with more of the administrative and less with the hands-on ministry," Kibben said. "This is an amazing opportunity to make sure chaplains and Sailors serving as religious program specialists are where it matters, when it matters, and have what they need to take care of their Sailors."

As the leader of religious affairs throughout the Department of the Navy and the head of the Navy Chaplain Corps, Kibben stays engaged with all senior Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard leadership to advise them on the spiritual welfare of their service members and to care for them, personally, as their chaplain.

"Chaplain Kibben is the leadership that the Chaplain Corps needs," said Ike's Command Chaplain, Cmdr. Ted Williams. "I agree wholeheartedly with her philosophies. It's really a pleasure having her out here."

Kibben had a chance to meet with chaplains from all ships throughout the strike group and ensure they have the right resources available and are effectively caring for the crews.

"We're making decisions in [Washington], D.C., that have impact here in the Arabian Gulf," Kibben said. "The only way to understand if they're the right decisions, if their impacting Sailors and if the religious ministry teams have what they need, is to observe it."

Kibben explained chaplains throughout Ike CSG and the Navy are doing a great job working together to understand how best to care for the crews.

"Our job is to make sure that Sailors have the strength and encouragement they need to excel in their work," Kibben said. "As chaplains, we must collaborate to know what works best. We as a Chaplain Corps rise and fall on our ability to work together."

After a tour of the ship and a chance to interact with some of the crew, Kibben expressed she was proud of the accomplishments of the strike group over the course of the deployment.

"This crew has demonstrated the toughness we preach," Kibben said, "absorbing the shocks that life throws at us and not breaking. You can't lose who you are or fall apart. The religious ministry teams are there to help you preserve that."

Ike, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, and Ike CSG are deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

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