Chaplain (COL) James J. Puchy serves as the Army Chief of Chaplains’ Director of Information, Resource Management, and Logistics (G 4 / 6 / 8 / EN).
He entered the U. S. Army in 1978 after being commissioned from Rutgers University’s ROTC as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery. As an Air Defense Artillery officer, he served as a Battalion S-2, Assault Platoon Leader, Base Platoon Leader, Firing Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Brigade Plan Officer, Brigade Assistant S1/Adjutant, and Battery Commander while stationed in Fort Riley, KS, Anabach, Hohenfels, Wuerzburg, Germany.
As a Chaplain, he has served the First Ranger Battalion, 84th Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy), 45th Corps Support Group, U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters, First Army Headquarters, TRADOC Headquarters, and the Office of the Chief of Chaplains.
Additionally, Chaplain Puchy was the founding pastor of Helemano Community Chapel, Hawaii, Continental Community Chapel, Fort Monroe, and Chapel Next, Fort Belvoir.
His civilian education includes, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and English from Rutgers College, Rutgers University, a Master in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary, a Master in Business Administration from Syracuse University, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California. He is currently completing a Doctor of Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary.
His military education includes Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course, the IHAWK Course, Chaplain Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Command and General Staff College, Division Chaplains Course, the Chaplain Colonel’s Courses, and the U.S. Army War College.
Chaplain Puchy is married to the former Rebecca Lynn Genshaw of Bad Axe, Michigan. She holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work from the University of Hawaii. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist. They reside in Alexandria, VA.