An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News from around the Fleet

NMCSD Chaplain Earns National Board Certification

02 December 2024

From Courtesy Story

Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Walling, Assistant Department Head for Pastoral Care Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), has earned National Board Certification from the National Association of VA Chaplains, a significant professional achievement in the field of spiritual care, Dec. 2.

The certification recognizes Walling's expertise and dedication to providing comprehensive spiritual support to service members, veterans, and their families. As a board-certified chaplain, Walling joins an elite group of professionals who meet rigorous standards in pastoral care, ethics, and leadership.

"Chaplain Walling’s achievement underscores the critical role of spiritual care in the holistic well-being of our military community," said Capt. Elizabeth Adriano, Director of NMCSD. "His commitment to serving others is a testament to the compassion and resilience that defines our team."

Reflecting on the certification, Walling emphasized the importance of the role chaplains play in military healthcare.
SAN DIEGO -- (Dec. 2, 2024)  Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Walling (L), Assistant Department Head for Pastoral Care Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), has earned National Board Certification from the National Association of VA Chaplains, a significant professional achievement in the field of spiritual care, Dec. 2, 2024.  The certification recognizes Walling's expertise and dedication to providing comprehensive spiritual support to service members, veterans, and their families. As a board-certified chaplain, Walling joins an elite group of professionals who meet rigorous standards in pastoral care, ethics, and leadership.  Presenting Walling his certificate is CAPT Elizabeth Adriano, Director of NMCSD.  NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members for deployment, deliver comprehensive health services, and advance military medicine through education, training, and research.  Employing over 5,000 personnel across Southern California, NMCSD is committed to delivering world-class patient care while upholding the highest standards of healthcare excellence.
SAN DIEGO -- (Dec. 2, 2024) Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Walling (L), Assistant Department Head for Pastoral Care Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), has earned National Board Certification from the National Association of VA Chaplains, a significant professional achievement in the field of spiritual care, Dec. 2, 2024. The certification recognizes Walling's expertise and dedication to providing comprehensive spiritual support to service members, veterans, and their families. As a board-certified chaplain, Walling joins an elite group of professionals who meet rigorous standards in pastoral care, ethics, and leadership. Presenting Walling his certificate is CAPT Elizabeth Adriano, Director of NMCSD. NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members for deployment, deliver comprehensive health services, and advance military medicine through education, training, and research. Employing over 5,000 personnel across Southern California, NMCSD is committed to delivering world-class patient care while upholding the highest standards of healthcare excellence.
SAN DIEGO -- (Dec. 2, 2024)  Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Walling (L), Assistant Department Head for Pastoral Care Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), has earned National Board Certification from the National Association of VA Chaplains, a significant professional achievement in the field of spiritual care, Dec. 2, 2024.  The certification recognizes Walling's expertise and dedication to providing comprehensive spiritual support to service members, veterans, and their families. As a board-certified chaplain, Walling joins an elite group of professionals who meet rigorous standards in pastoral care, ethics, and leadership.  Presenting Walling his certificate is CAPT Elizabeth Adriano, Director of NMCSD.  NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members for deployment, deliver comprehensive health services, and advance military medicine through education, training, and research.  Employing over 5,000 personnel across Southern California, NMCSD is committed to delivering world-class patient care while upholding the highest standards of healthcare excellence.
241202-N-WJ173-1001
SAN DIEGO -- (Dec. 2, 2024) Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Walling (L), Assistant Department Head for Pastoral Care Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), has earned National Board Certification from the National Association of VA Chaplains, a significant professional achievement in the field of spiritual care, Dec. 2, 2024. The certification recognizes Walling's expertise and dedication to providing comprehensive spiritual support to service members, veterans, and their families. As a board-certified chaplain, Walling joins an elite group of professionals who meet rigorous standards in pastoral care, ethics, and leadership. Presenting Walling his certificate is CAPT Elizabeth Adriano, Director of NMCSD. NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members for deployment, deliver comprehensive health services, and advance military medicine through education, training, and research. Employing over 5,000 personnel across Southern California, NMCSD is committed to delivering world-class patient care while upholding the highest standards of healthcare excellence.
Photo By: Marcelo Calero
VIRIN: 241202-N-WJ173-1001


“It’s an honor to serve the men and women who wear our Nation’s cloth,” Walling said. “Earning this certification reaffirms my commitment to providing compassionate care and spiritual guidance to those navigating life’s challenges.”

Walling, a native from Houston, Texas, worked as a church pastor for 19 years before commissioning later in life as a Navy chaplain. Grateful for the opportunity to provide spiritual support to the sea services, he has served and deployed with USS Somerset (LPD 25) and with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment.

Walling’s certification enhances NMCSD’s ability to address the spiritual needs of its diverse patient population and staff, further aligning with the center’s mission to deliver world-class care to those who serve, their families, and veterans.

The mission of NMCSD is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services, and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research. NMCSD employs more than 5,000 active-duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in southern California to provide patients with world-class care. Anchored in Excellence, Committed to Health!
 

Google Translation Disclaimer

  • Google Translate, a third party service provided by Google, performs all translations directly and dynamically.
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil has no control over the features, functions, or performance of the Google Translate service.
  • The automated translations should not be considered exact and should be used only as an approximation of the original English language content.
  • This service is meant solely for the assistance of limited English-speaking users of the website.
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information translated.
  • Some items cannot be translated, including but not limited to image buttons, drop down menus, graphics, photos, or portable document formats (pdfs).
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil does not directly endorse Google Translate or imply that it is the only language translation solution available to users.
  • All site visitors may choose to use similar tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk.
  • IE users: Please note that Google Translate may not render correctly when using Internet Explorer. Users are advised to use MS Edge, Safari, Chrome, or Firefox browser to take full advantage of the Google Translate feature.
  • The official text of content on this site is the English version found on this website. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in translated text, refer to the English version on this website, it is the official version.

Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea   |   PSC 478 Box 1   |   FPO AP, 96212-0001
Official U.S. Navy Website