The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) named Jim Meredith as its Centurion of the Year Award recipient at the Chaplains Commission Centurion Banquet, held Jan. 13 in Alexandria, Virginia. The Centurion of the Year Award recognizes leaders who have exemplified commitment to the ministry of evangelical military chaplains. 

“Jim Meredith’s ministry reflects that of a true disciple of Christ,” said David Cyr, Executive Director of the NAE Chaplains Commission. “He has followed God through a number of different assignments — serving evangelical chaplains and other service members and giving God the glory.”

Meredith retired as a U.S. Army Colonel in 1987 after completing 31 years of military service, including two combat tours in Viet Nam. While much of his service was with the Pentagon, his final assignment was as Department Chairman on the faculty of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Following retirement, he worked in government relations in Washington, D.C., and then became President of the American National Metric Council. He also served as Board Chairman and Executive Director of Military Community Youth Ministries/Club Beyond and then as Director of International Expatriate Ministry for Young Life, retiring from that post in 2001. He has now been involved with Officer Christian Fellowship for 58 years and continues an active retreat leading and speaking schedule.

Meredith was born in Marion, Indiana, in 1934. He holds degrees from Wheaton College and the University of Cincinnati. Meredith lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Barbara. They have four children, 19 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Centurion of the Year Award recipients are nominated and elected by members of The Centurions, the top-level supporters of the Chaplains Commission.

The Centurion Banquet was held in conjunction with the Commission’s annual meeting, which brings together endorsers of evangelical chaplains to discuss issues that impact the ministries of evangelical chaplains in the military, Veterans Affairs and other civilian chaplaincies.