| Chaplain Irving A. Elson was born in Mexico City , Mexico , in 1960. He was educated at Yeshiva University in New York , and earned his AA and BA in 1982, majoring in Psychology and Jewish Studies. He entered a Masters program at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York , and was awarded an MA in Hebrew Literature in 1984. During this time, he also spent a year of postgraduate study at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem from 1983-1984. The Jewish Theological Seminary of America ordained him a rabbi in 1987.
Commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve, through the Chaplain Candidate Program, Chaplain Elson came on active duty in June of 1987. His assignments were as follows: Marine Corps Base, Camp S. D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan; Naval Station Charleston, S. C.; COMSIXTHFLT, Gaeta, Italy; Naval Education and Training Center, Newport, R. I.; Naval Recruiting Command, Area ONE, Scotia, NY; and Staff Chaplain at the United States Naval Academy. Chaplain Elson also continues to serve as a guest lecturer at the Naval War College in Newport , R.I. , and the Navy Chaplain's School.
In August of 2003, Chaplain Elson reported to the First Marine Expeditionary Force and soon after deployed to Kuwait and eventually Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom as Jewish Chaplain for the MEF.
As the only Jewish Chaplain serving with Marines in Iraq , and chaplain for 1 st Battalion, 11 th Marine Regiment, Rabbi Elson participated in numerous combat engagements throughout the conflict. Rabbi Elson returned to Iraq in September of 2004 where he served as Jewish Chaplain for IMEF during the Battle for Fallujah. He also conducted Jewish High Holy Day services for Jewish personnel in the Al Ahnbar (Sunni Triangle) Province of Iraq during that time.
In June of 2005, Rabbi Elson reported for Duty as Deputy Command Chaplain at the US Naval Academy where he was instrumental in the building and dedication of the Uriah P. Levy Center and Jewish Chapel. In July of 2008 CAPT Elson reported for duty as Force Chaplain, Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet.
Chaplain Elson's hobbies include civil aviation (he holds a commercial pilot's license with over 1200 hrs of flight time) and cross-country skiing. He has been married for the past 21 years to Fran Dishler, and has three children, Jacob, 15, Aliza,12 and Abigail 6.
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