Khallid Shabazz

Distinguished scholar, military officer and spiritual leader, Chaplain (Colonel) Khallid M. Shabazz, Ph.D., D. Min., is a native of Alexandria, LA, and currently serves as the first Muslim brigade chaplain in Army history. As a child, Khallid was sexually abused by a family friend — an experience, he said, that left him an angry young man. When he first went to college, he fell in with the wrong crowd, often engaging in violent disagreements – one of which he was beaten and shot in the back. He survived but decided to put his studies on hold and joined the military. Khallid’s new identity as a Muslim came in the early 1990’s. The change was not received well by all. He faced discrimination from other soldiers and the displeasure of his Christian family. He was ready to quit the military, but then he met with an Army chaplain, who persuaded him not only to stay in the army but to become a chaplain himself. Khallid became a chaplain in 1998, having studied Arabic in Jordan along the way. He also earned two master's degrees at universities in Connecticut and California. Shabazz is just one of five Muslim chaplains in the army. With his position as a colonel, Khallid is now responsible for tens of thousands of soldiers and supervises other chaplains. Like all military chaplains, he serves soldiers of all religions. In addition to a doctorate in higher education administration from Trident University International, Khallid earned a doctorate in Christian theology from North Texas Theological Seminary and believes his experience with both religions has helped to make him a better chaplain.