About
AUSA’s Noon Report webinar series features presentations by senior Army leaders responsible for key programs and initiatives, as well as contemporary military authors who weave together the past, present and future story of the United States Army.

Please join us on Wednesday, 8 March, at 12:00 PM EDT, for a fireside chat with Dr. James A. Helis, USA, Ret., Director of the Army Resilience Directorate, and Chaplain (MG) Thomas L. Solhjem, 25th Chief of Chaplains. They will address how the Army is equipping Commanders and leaders with prevention resources to mitigate and reduce harmful behaviors that lead to suicide; discuss the role of spiritual readiness as a protective factor in the prevention of suicide; and examine the Army’s progress in refining intervention and response efforts.

WEBINAR ENDED
Agenda
  • 1145-1200: Log-on
  • 1200: Opening remarks by LTG Leslie Smith, Vice President, Leadership & Education, AUSA
  • 1205-1225: Fireside Chat with Dr. James A. Helis, Director of the Army Resilience Directorate and Chaplin (MG) Thomas L. Solhjem, 25th Chief of Chaplains
  • 1225-1245: Question & Answer Session
  • 1250: Closing remarks by LTG Leslie Smith, Vice President, Leadership & Education, AUSA
Presenters
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Dr. James Helis
Director of the Army Resilience Directorate
Dr. Helis was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2012. He is currently serving as the Director of the Army Resilience Directorate. In this capacity, he establishes effective strategies, develops plans, and formulates policies for continued improvement of ARD programs. Dr. Helis works with Army and Department of Defense Senior Leaders to develop and execute short-term strategies and long-term initiatives to satisfy changing needs in a dynamic, evolving environment supporting Soldiers and Army Families. Prior to this assignment, he served as the National Security Counselor to the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Washington, DC. In this capacity he advised the Assistant Secretary on the role of the Department of Transportation pertaining to national security objectives Additionally, Dr. Helis served as the Superintendent to the United States Merchant Marine Academy for six years. As the Chief Executive Officer for one of America’s finest academies, he was responsible for the effective execution of a comprehensive four-year leadership program for cadets’ commission as an officer in one of the US Armed Forces.

Career Chronology
Mar 19 - Current: Director, Army Resilience Directorate, HQDA, DCS, G-1, Pentagon, Washington, DC
Oct 18 - Mar 19: National Security Counselor to the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs, Washington, DC
Jul 12 - Oct 18: Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY
Jan 09 – Jul 12: Chairman, Department of National Security and Strategy, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA
Jul 08 – Dec 08: NATO International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan
Jun 04 – Jun 08: Chairman, Department of National Security and Strategy, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barrack, PA
May 02 – Jun 04: Director, Military History and Strategy, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA
Jun 79 – Jun 09: Infantry Officer, United States Army

College
Doctor of Philosophy, International Relations, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 2006
Master of Arts, Political Science, University of Pennsylvania, 1990
Bachelor of Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, 1979

Significant Training
U.S. Army Senior Service College Fellow, Queen’s University Centre for International Relations, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Master of Military Art and Science, School of Advance Military Studies, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. Kansas

Major Publications
“An Exit Interview with General David G. McKiernan,” Senior Leader Debriefing Program, US Army Military History Institute, 2011.
“Multilateralism and Unilateralism” in US Army War College Guide to National Security Issues, Volume Ii: National Security Policy and Strategy, ed. J. Boone Bartholomees, Strategic Studies Institute, June 2008.
“Haiti: A Study in Canadian-American Cooperation in The Western Hemisphere,” in Over Here and Over There: Canada-US Defence Cooperation in an Era of Interoperability, ed. David G. Haglund, Queen’s Quarterly 2001.
“Air Assault Forces in the Counter-Penetration Role,” School of Advance Military Studies Monograph, 1992
“Do the CINC Still Have a Job? Operational Command in Operations Short War,” School of Advanced Military Studies Monograph, 1992
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Chaplain (MG) Thomas L. Solhjem
25th Chief of Chaplains
Chaplain (Major General) Thomas L. Solhjem became the Army’s 25th Chief of Chaplains in May 2019. He leads the Chaplain Corps in providing religious support to the Army’s Soldiers, their Families, and Civilians.
Chaplain Solhjem enlisted in the United States Army in 1974. After completing his initial active duty assignment at Bamberg, Germany, he continued his military service in the Army Reserve at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. While serving in the Army Reserve, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Central University, and then a Master of Divinity degree from Bethel Theological Seminary. He is an ordained Assemblies of God minister, and he served as a pastor in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for six years. In 1988, he was commissioned as a chaplain in the United States Army and reentered active duty.
Chaplain Solhjem’s assignments as a chaplain include: Battalion Chaplain, 4th Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Deployed ISO Desert Shield/Storm); Battalion Chaplain, 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, 193rd Infantry Brigade, Fort Kobbe, Panama; Battalion Chaplain, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia (Deployed ISO Operation Uphold Democracy); Installation and Brigade Chaplain, 1st Engineer Training Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; student in residence, Command and General Staff College; Deputy Division Chaplain, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea; Regimental Chaplain, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia (Multiple deployments ISO OEF/OIF); Command Chaplain, United States Army Special Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Command Chaplain, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Multiple deployments ISO OEF/OIF on JTF); student in residence, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Command Chaplain, United States Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida (Deployed ISO OEF); Command Chaplain, United States Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters Department of the Army.
Chaplain Solhjem has numerous awards and citations, to name a few Legion of Merit (2OLC), Bronze Star (4OLC), the Combat Action Badge; the Ranger Tab; Master Parachutist Wings; and multiple Foreign Jump Wings.
Chaplain Solhjem has been married to the former Jill Walberg for 44 years. Tom and Jill are the parents of four children: BJ and his wife, Laurie, who have three daughters; Thad, NDARNG, and his wife, Deanna; Sam, USAR, and his wife, Caitlin; and Beth and her husband, Andrew Gustafson, who have two sons and a daughter.
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SMA Kenneth O. Preston
U.S. Army Retired
Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston served as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army from January 15, 2004 to March 1, 2011. He retires as the longest serving Sergeant Major of the Army with more than seven years in the position.

As Sergeant Major of the Army, Preston served as the Army Chief of Staff's personal adviser on all Soldier and Family related matters, particularly areas affecting Soldier training and quality of life. He devoted the majority of his time in this position to traveling throughout the Army serving as a force provider overseeing Soldier and unit training, manning and equipping challenges, and talking to Soldiers and their Families to understand their personal hardships and challenges.

Preston is a native of Mount Savage, Md. He entered the Army on June 30, 1975. He attended Basic Training and Armor Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Throughout his 36-year career, he served in every enlisted leadership position from cavalry scout and tank commander to his final position as Sergeant Major of the Army. Other assignments he held as a command sergeant major were with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division; 3rd "Grey Wolf" Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; 1st Armored Division in Bad Kreuznach, Germany; and V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany.

His most recent assignment prior to serving as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army was as the command sergeant major for Combined Joint Task Force 7 in Baghdad, Iraq.

His military education includes the Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer's Course, First Sergeant's Course, M1/M1A1 Tank Master Gunner Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer's Course, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. Preston holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Trident University International.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal 11th award, National Defense ribbon with bronze star, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCOES Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon 5th award, the NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with bronze star, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Department of the Army Staff Badge.

He and his wife Karen have 3 adult children Valarie, Kenneth Jr., Michael, and 8 grandchildren.
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