Chaplain (COL) Emmitt Maxwell Furner II, a native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1990 and served four years as a Military Policeman. After completing his service obligation, Chaplain Furner attended West Virginia University and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the U.S. Army ROTC. Chaplain Furner was commissioned Infantry and assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, as a Rifle Platoon Leader, and Rifle Company Executive Officer. After completing his assignment as an Infantry Officer, Chaplain Furner answered his call to military ministry and earned a Masters of Arts in Religion and Master of Divinity from Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia and was subsequently assessed into the US Army Chaplain Corps. Chaplain Furner has also earned a Masters of Arts in Education from West Virginia University, a Masters of Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, a Masters of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, and PhD from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Chaplain Furner is endorsed by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

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Chaplain Furner’s first chaplain duty assignment was with the 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. His follow-on include 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis Washington, a Special Mission Unit in Virginia, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the Deputy Division Chaplain of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Chaplain Furner also served as the Task Force All American Chaplain, 82nd Airborne Division ISO Operation Inherent Resolve. Chaplain Furner also served as the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Chaplain, United States Special Operations Command Chaplain Office Plans and Operations Officer, and a SMU command chaplain and the executive officer for the US Army Deputy Chief of Chaplains. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff / Deputy Commandant of the United States Institute for Religious Leadership.

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Chaplain Furner is a graduate of the U.S. Army Air Assault School, Airborne School, Ranger School, the Infantry and Chaplain Officers Basic Courses, the Joint Special Operations Command SERE School, the Master Resiliency Trainer Course, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

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Chaplain Furner’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (four oak leaf cluster), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (six oak leaf clusters), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (eight oak leaf clusters), and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. He is authorized to wear the Dutch and Canadian foreign jump wings and the Staff Identification badge.

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For God & Country … Living The Call!