Mont. Wing Chaplain Recognized with Natl. Award

Lt. Col. Bill Bowden
Public Affairs Officer
Butte Composite Squadron
Wyoming Wing
 

Chaplain (Capt.) David Knight of the Montana Wing has been recognized with the Military Chaplains Association’s Distinguished Service Award, which honors ministry excellence of chaplains in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Veterans Affairs and Civil Air Patrol.

Knight, who serves as chaplain for both the Montana Wing and the Butte Composite Squadron, received the award at the Military Chaplains Association National Institute meeting in Columbia, South Carolina.

As wing chaplain, Knight has visited every unit in Montana and has worked to ensure that every squadron has either a chaplain or character development instructor.

He has also repeatedly led by example. During 2018, he:

• Completed the requirements for CAP’s Paul E. Garber Award, becoming one of an elite group of captains who have attained this achievement level.
   
• Achieved the Master Rating in chaplain training in 2018. He is qualified as an Emergency Services Mission Chaplain.
   
• Served as deputy director of the Rocky Mountain Region Chaplain Corps Region Staff College at the Air Force Academy.

Knight first encountered CAP after a cadet committed suicide. He presided over the service, which was held in the church he pastored. He was particularly impressed when cadets in attendance gave up their seats to some women in the standing-room-only church.

Before moving to Butte to become pastor at Heritage Bible Church, Knight was pastor at the Augusta Community Church in Augusta, Montana, for 18 years. While in Augusta he also served as an ambulance driver.

Knight’s duties as pastor and chaplain and as an organizer of “Operation Christmas Child” keep him busy. Operation Christmas Child collects and delivers millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 160 countries and territories. He is also chaplain for Veteran of Foreign Post 1448 in Butte.