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Our Staff & Contact Information

Dr. David Whitaker

President

Rev. Randy Brandt

Director of Chaplaincy

Rev. Randy Brandit - Biography

Chaplain Brandt began his military career in 1976, enlisting in the United States Air Force as a Dietary Technician right out of high school.

After a spiritual conversion, he exited active duty in 1980, joined the Air National Guard as an Air Force Cook, and attended Bible College and Seminary in Denver, CO.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Chaplain Candidate while attending Denver Seminary in 1988. He was called to active duty as an Army Chaplain in preparation for Desert Shield/Desert Storm in January of 1991 and served his first Chaplain assignment with the 17th Signal Battalion, Frankfurt Germany and Kitzingen, Germany (1991-1993).

Other assignments include Chaplain Officer Advance Course, Fort Monmouth, NJ (1994); Battalion Chaplain 1-8 IN, 4ID, Fort Carson, CO; Brigade Chaplain 3rd BDE, 4ID, Fort Carson, CO (1994-1997); Clinical Pastoral Education, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX (1997-1998); Chief, Dept. of Ministry and Pastoral Care, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY (1998-2001); Chief of Plans, Training, Operations, and Resource Management, U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), Fort Sam Houston, TX (2001-2003); Brigade Chaplain, 2BCT, 1ID, Schweinfurt, GE and Tikrit, Iraq (2003-2005); Family Life Chaplain, Schweinfurt, GE (2005); Garrison Chaplain, Ledward Brks, Schwienfurt, GE (2006), Director of Pastoral Care - United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB), Ft. Leavenworth, KS (2006-2008); Deputy MEDCOM Chaplain, Ft. Sam Houston, TX (2008-2010); Personnel Assignments Officer, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Pentagon, Washington, DC (2010-2013); Senior Military Corrections Complex and 15th MP BDE Chaplain as well as Director of Pastoral Care, USDB (2013-2014); Command Chaplain for the Western Regional Medical Command, JBLM, WA (2015); Command Chaplain for Regional Health Command Pacific (Provisional), JBLM, WA (2016); Command Chaplain for the Regional Health Command – Central at Ft. Sam Houston TX (2016-2018); He retired as the JBLM Garrison Chaplain, JBLM, WA (2018-2019).

Chaplain Brandt is endorsed by the Conservative Baptist Association of America (CBAmerica) and has 43 years of combined military service (AD AF, AFNG, Army Reserve, and AD Army), the last 32 as an Army Chaplain. He is currently serving as the Director of Chaplaincy for Venture Church Networks.

Chaplain Brandt’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6), Army Commendation Medal (2), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2), Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), Iraqi Campaign Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Air Force Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (5), the Air Force Training Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge.

Chaplain Brandt is married to the former Ms. Julie K. Widner and they have two daughters, Sarah (31) and Rebecca (28).

Rev. Thomas E Gidley

Associate Director of Chaplaincy

Thomas Gidley - Biography

Thomas was born in Morgantown, West Virginia. In the summer of 1985, while in high school, Thomas had his spiritual conversion, resulting in a lifelong pursuit of serving Christ.

In 1988, Thomas enlisted as a Chaplain Assistant in the United States Army. Upon completing his initial active-duty enlistment in 1991, he subsequentially transferred directly into the West Virginia National Guard. He attended West Virginia University, graduating with a BA in History. While still in the Army Reserves, Thomas continued his studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, graduating with a Master of Divinity.

Thomas’s military assignments have included: {Enlisted} 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California (1988-1991), where he deployed to Panama in support of Operation Just Cause; the West Virginia Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves (1991-1999). In November 1999, Chaplain Gidley was commissioned into the Army’s Chaplain Candidate Program. In October 2003, he was accessioned to active duty chaplaincy and has served in the following organizations: 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas (2003-2006), where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina (2006-2009), where he deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky (2009-2010); the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment (OPFOR), Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana (2010-2012), the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Kentucky (2013-2016), the 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York (2016-2018), the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, Texas (2018-2020); US Army Garrison BENELUX, Belgium (2020-2022); and the US Army Garrison at Fort Campbell, Kentucky (2022-2024); Chaplain Gidley retired, after 36 years of service in the United States Army Chaplain Corps.

Chaplain Gidley’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (w/ six Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (w/ four Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (w/ two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award (w/ two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (w/ Campaign Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/ Campaign Star), Iraqi Campaign Medal (w/ Campaign Star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, the Jungle Expert Badge, and the Netherlands Foreign Parachutist Badge.

Chaplain Gidley’s military education includes the Brigade Chaplain Functional Course (2016), the Clinical Pastoral Education Course (2013), the Command and General Staff College Intermediate Level Education Course (2011), the Chaplain Captain Career Course (2010), the Basic Airborne Course (2006), the Chaplain Officer Basic Course (2000), the Jungle Warfare School in Panama (1989), Advanced Individual Training (1988), and Basic Combat Training (1988).

Chaplain Gidley is married to the former Michelle De Los Santos of Simi Valley, California. They have three adult sons, Philip, Jacob, and Benjamin. Chaplain Gidley’s endorsing agency has always been the Venture Church Network (formerly the Conservative Baptist Association of America). In August 2024, Thomas formally joined Venture Church Network as the new Associate Director of Chaplaincy.