Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Day Phone
Evening Phone
Awards
References
Availability
Organizations And Affiliations
Job Related Training
Timeline
Generic
Gale Gunnar Cotton

Gale Gunnar Cotton

Newburgh,United States

Summary

Board-certified clinical chaplain with 13 years of experience at Evansville Health Care Center, specializing in spiritual assessment and crisis intervention. Designed and implemented training programs that improved community support and received exceptional performance reviews. Skilled in navigating complex moral dilemmas and promoting teamwork among diverse groups.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Staff Chaplain

EVANSVILLE HEALTH CARE CENTER, VHA
Evansville, United States
10.2018 - Current
  • Board-certified clinical chaplain with 13 years of experience in multicultural clinical settings.
  • Served as sole chaplain for enhanced community-based clinic, coordinating care across 13 clinics.
  • Received outstanding performance reviews annually for six years, achieving promotion to full-time GS-12.
  • Completed VA Moral Injury training and delivered training for Social Work Grand Rounds.
  • Developed and conducted virtual Rural Community Clergy Training since 2021 for southern Indiana tri-state.
  • Provided comprehensive spiritual assessments and pastoral care addressing complex moral issues for veterans.
  • Collaborated with behavioral health therapists to implement suicide prevention strategies and addiction treatment.

Chaplain

WARRIOR TRANSITION (RECOVERY) BATTALION
Wahiawa, United States
07.2016 - 12.2017
  • Chaplain for the DOD/VA integrated nurse case management during the six phases of the DOD/VA Integrated Disability Evaluation.
  • Ninety percent of patients required psychiatric care.
  • Provided care to persons afflicted with mental, emotional and spiritual injuries.
  • Conducted spiritual assessments for all veterans, active duty, reserve service members, and family members.
  • Collaborated with other disciplines to develop uniformity in medical outcomes during care planning.
  • Developed specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART) goals that enhanced life-giving and reduced life-limiting theologies.
  • I trained two subordinate chaplains in all facets of hospital chaplaincy and served as a preceptor for 12 summer interns.
  • Supervisor: LTC Darrin Cox (808) 655-6659.
  • Okay to contact this supervisor: Yes.

Chaplain Clinician

TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
Honolulu, United States
02.2013 - 07.2016
  • Served as Chaplain for Department of Behavioral Health and Addictions Medicine for 45 months.
  • Conducted spirituality assessments to support recovery in Addictions Medicine Intensive Outpatient Program.
  • Aligned spirituality programs with 12-step recovery framework.
  • Explored coping strategies to navigate treatment challenges and decision-making burdens.
  • Collaborated with VA and active-duty social work departments to enhance weekly discharge planning.

Brigade Chaplain

45th Sustainment Brigade
Schofield Barracks, United States
05.2011 - 02.2013
  • Served as Brigade Chaplain for 3,000 troops and 6 junior chaplains across 1,200 miles.
  • Planned and executed six marriage and family retreats during pre-deployment and reintegration phases.
  • Conducted 12 battlefield site visits for six chaplains at three Forward Operating Bases in southern Afghanistan.

Garrison Staff Chaplain

Installation Chaplain's Office
Fort Bliss, United States
03.2009 - 05.2011
  • Served as principal advisor to Installation Chaplain for family programs and community outreach.
  • Conducted training during one-day family program for incoming personnel.
  • Revitalized Soldier Host Family program, enhancing community engagement.
  • Led planning team for annual picnic, coordinating resources for 500 attendees.
  • Managed ticketing, catering, and traffic flow for successful event execution.
  • Participated in Brigade tiger team across three open sexual assault investigations.

Brigade Chaplain

1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st CAV
Fort Hood, United States
07.2008 - 03.2009
  • Actively integrated Chaplain services with the Family Readiness Group initiatives prior to deployment to Iraq.
  • Worked with the Family Readiness Group Leader to prepare guidance for 'Go Teams' and 'Care Teams' to provide crisis care to families during deployment.
  • Provided Family care training to the family readiness groups, presented the Chaplain training in Iraq, the quarterly rear detachment Chaplain programs for families and spoke with families at 3 Family Readiness team meetings.
  • Accomplishments: Developed a robust religious support plan that mapped every faith group in our organization and provided detailed plans and procedures for ministry.

Senior Chaplain Clinician

William Beaumont Army Medical Center
El Paso, United States
02.2007 - 07.2008
  • Planned and coordinated all Chaplain programs and operations for the chief of Pastoral Care.
  • Supervised an office staff of three non-commissioned officers, four chaplains, a civilian secretary and 35 volunteers.
  • Conducted comprehensive training for pastoral care volunteers for patient visitation and spiritual triage.
  • Accomplishments: Conducted three marriage and family workshops for hospital leaders and families.

Chaplain Clinician

Combat Support Hospital
Fort Bliss, United States
01.2006 - 02.2007
  • Provided six weeks of pre-deployment training for 500 personnel transitioning to Japan.
  • Conducted predeployment training and overnight couples workshop for 30 couples deploying to Iraq.

Education

Professional degree - Clinical Pastoral Education

DD Eisenhower Army Medical Center
Augusta, GA, United States
06.2005

Master's degree - MDIV In Theology

Erskine Theological Seminary
Due West, SC, United States
04.1995

Bachelor's degree - B.S., Bible

Valley Forge Christian College
Phoenixville, PA, United States
05.1988

Skills

  • Spiritual assessment
  • Pastoral care
  • Crisis intervention
  • Moral injury training
  • Training development
  • Care coordination

Day Phone

812-465-6202 X 73606

Evening Phone

915-276-5476

Awards

  • Meritorious Service Medal (4)
  • Army Commendation Medal (2)
  • Army Achievement (4)
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal
  • NATO and Korean Service Medals

References

  • Jennifer Hamilton, Owensboro VA Clinic-Marion VA Medical Center, Social Worker, 270-684-5034, Jennifer.hamilton@va.gov
  • Olivia Golike, Evansville Healthcare Center, ACP-GV Program Coordinator, 812-465-6202 X 73132, olivia.golike@va.gov

Availability

Permanent, Full-time

Organizations And Affiliations

  • NAVAC - BOARD CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN
  • ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAINS - MEMBER
  • DAV - LIFE MEMBER
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars - LIFE MEMBER

Job Related Training

  • Training in Telehealth Pastoral Care
  • Critical Stress Debriefing Skills Training
  • Singles, Couples and Family Communication Skills Training
  • Pastoral Crisis Intervention Skills Training
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer
  • Completed VA training on Moral Injury

Timeline

Staff Chaplain

EVANSVILLE HEALTH CARE CENTER, VHA
10.2018 - Current

Chaplain

WARRIOR TRANSITION (RECOVERY) BATTALION
07.2016 - 12.2017

Chaplain Clinician

TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
02.2013 - 07.2016

Brigade Chaplain

45th Sustainment Brigade
05.2011 - 02.2013

Garrison Staff Chaplain

Installation Chaplain's Office
03.2009 - 05.2011

Brigade Chaplain

1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st CAV
07.2008 - 03.2009

Senior Chaplain Clinician

William Beaumont Army Medical Center
02.2007 - 07.2008

Chaplain Clinician

Combat Support Hospital
01.2006 - 02.2007

Professional degree - Clinical Pastoral Education

DD Eisenhower Army Medical Center

Master's degree - MDIV In Theology

Erskine Theological Seminary

Bachelor's degree - B.S., Bible

Valley Forge Christian College

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