The Association of Professional Chaplains® (APC) presented the Rev. Dr. Dallas Little, BCC, with the Distinguished Service Award at the Grand Banquet on the final night of their Annual Conference. The Conference was held at the Marriott Marquis in Houston, TX June 22nd - 25th, 2017.

   Each year, the Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual or organization who may or may not be a member of the Association of Professional Chaplains, but who has exemplified or promoted the standards of professional chaplaincy.

    For the last 16 years. Chaplain. Little has served as an active duty chaplain in the United States Air Force. His postings and assignments have earned him recognition from his colleagues for his knowledge, understanding and accomplishments in the field of chaplaincy. Later this year Chaplain. Little will be receiving a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

   Chaplain Little's professional goals have centered on raising the standard of care among chaplains and to promote their life-long commitment to professional standards in the field. His accomplishments include increasing access of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training to rural-based military chaplains who previously did not have access to this training. Thanks to Chaplain Little's efforts, more of these chaplains are now pursuing additional CPE units as well as board certification in chaplaincy. He is a current APC member and is Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) certified.

    "Chaplain Little models professional chaplaincy though his calm ministry of presence and his deliberate, extensive development of programs that advance his field of expertise, said Colonel Ira Campbell, DMin BCC. "His leading-edge work is worthy of celebration and wide emulation."

    Campbell added that Chaplain Little recently spearheaded a Moral Injury Conference for the entire Air National Guard, with an audience of not only chaplains and chaplain assistants, but Air National Guard Directors of Psychological Heath as well. This unique event created unparalleled collaboration between chaplains and professional mental health providers. 

     Chaplain Little is an Ordained Elder in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, United Methodist Church.  His education includes Master of Arts in Pastoral and Spiritual Care from Iliff School of Theology as well as a Master of Divinity from Emory University and a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University.  Chaplain Little has also served as adjunct faculty at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. 

     We congratulate MCA member Chaplain Little for this recognition and his embodiment of professionalism in military chaplaincy.