Commander
Patrick Niemeyer was born in Sanger, California. He received his
Masters of Divinity from the International School of Theology in 1995
and is endorsed by the Evangelical Free Churches of America (EFCA). He
was commissioned in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps in April
2001. In addition he has earned degrees in Nursing, Psychology, and
Accounting. He is married to his current wife of 38 years, Cindy, and
has two children, Brandon and Morgan.
Chaplain Niemeyer was enlisted from 1971 to 1975 and served aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN SSBN 602 as a Launch Operator Supervisor.
Before
returning to the Navy, Chaplain Niemeyer worked as a Registered Nurse,
Management Engineer and Chief of Finance and Budget for Community
Hospitals of Central California. He pastored in local churches for ten
years.
Chaplain
Niemeyer was first assigned as the Assistant Command Chaplain at the
Naval Weapons Station, China Lake, California. While there he gave
oversight to a Jewish and Muslim congregation as well as pastoring two
Protestant congregations. In addition he provided leadership to JMMP
(Junior Military Mentoring Program), pastoral and counseling services to
military personnel and their families, China Lake Police and Fire
Departments and DOD employees, and performed numerous military and civil
events and ceremonies.
Chaplain
Niemeyer served aboard the USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN as a Department Head for
the Religious Ministries Department, he completed two deployments and
was the 58.1 Force Chaplain while in the North Arabian Gulf. He also
has departmental responsibilities for the Command’s INDOC, DAPA, Family
Support Group, and Ombudsman programs.
Chaplain
Niemeyer served with the Joint Special Operations Command in
Afghanistan as the Command Chaplain where he was involved in direct
mission support with JSOC forces, including Seal Team Six.
He
was assigned to the United States Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New
England as the Command Chaplain. He advised the Command on personal,
moral, and ethical issues, ministered and provided support to over 1100
Coast Guard, Army National Guard, Air Force, and Air National Guard
personnel and their families. Chaplain Niemeyer was instrumental in
establishing suicide first aid training and taught Applied Suicide
Intervention Training throughout Coast Guard District 1. He established
protocol for CACO identification and training within the Sector.
Chaplain Niemeyer is currently assigned to Marine Corps 1st Division where he served as Command Chaplain for the 3D Assault Amphibious Battalion, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and is currently the Command Chaplain for the 11th Marine Regiment and gives oversight to 4 Chaplains and their RPs.
Chaplain Niemeyer just returned from a successful seven month tour in Afghanistan with the 1st Marine Division in the Helmand Province.
Commander
Niemeyer’s personal decorations include the Joint Commendation Medal,
Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Coast Guard Commendation, Battle
Efficiency ribbon, Sea Service Deployment ribbon, Outstanding Volunteer
Service medal and various other personal, service and campaign awards.