From Medic to Minister: NMFP Corpsman Transforms into Navy Chaplain

Hailing from Ghana, Ensign Parker-Ansah has exemplified dedication, resilience, and a profound commitment to service throughout her journey.

“Receiving a commission in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps is a significant achievement, a dedication to service, leadership and the responsibilities that come with it,” said Cmdr. Eric Polonsky, director for administration, Naval Medical Forces Pacific. “As with any milestone, the wisest person is one who while looking forward to the journey before him or her also looks back in a moment of reflection to its beginning.”

Parker-Ansah graduated from Accra Girls Senior High School, Accra Region, Ghana, in 2008. Her academic pursuits took her to the London School of Business and Finance in the UK, where she earned a degree in economics and statistics in 2012. She furthered her education with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duke University in 2016 and completed an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Emory University by 2018. She is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from Liberty University, set to graduate in 2025.

Parker-Ansah enlisted in the Navy on January 7, 2019, motivated by her healthcare background to serve as a Navy healthcare administrator. She played a crucial role in life-saving surgeries at Walter Reed National Military Center during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Naval Medical Forces Pacific, Parker-Ansah received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for meritorious service in various roles. She processed thousands of official correspondences and coordinated command trainings, achieving a 99% compliance rating for two consecutive quarters in 2023. As assistant command diversity officer, she championed diversity and workplace equality.

Her journey toward becoming a chaplain began in February 2023 after learning about the Chaplain Candidate Program Officers. She submitted her application in April 2024, aiming to bridge healthcare and chaplaincy in the Navy. Her expertise as a registered nurse and her advanced degrees uniquely position her to address mental health issues among service members.

“I was drawn to this field because I want to impact the lives of our Sailors by providing a safe space for them to express their concerns without judgment,” she said. “I want to help reduce mental health-related issues like suicide.”

She recollects a past commitment following a tragic experience in Ghana, where armed intruders breached her family’s home, resulting in her grandmother’s death. “With guns pointed at us, I prayed to God to keep us alive in exchange for my service to Him,” Parker-Ansah said.

Supported by her husband, Daniel, and their two-year-old son Damian, Parker-Ansah has faced significant challenges, including giving birth to her son in her husband’s absence while managing work and school.

“My son, Damien, you make all the hassle worth it,” she said during her commissioning ceremony. “My husband, thank you for standing by me. You are my gift from God.”

Her mentors, Chief Hospital Corpsman Rashanta Pippins and Cmdr. David Alexander, have been instrumental. “She has been steady, deliberate, and patient,” Alexander said. “She loves people and wants to help them flourish. She possesses a deep spiritual life.”

Parker-Ansah aims to complete her Divinity Program and pursue certification in Clinical Pastoral Education. As a chaplain, she aspires to be a beacon of hope, offering spiritual guidance and support.

The U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps supports the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of Navy and Marine Corps members. Parker-Ansah’s commissioning reflects this mission and the enduring legacy of chaplains since 1775.

“Some folks who know my background are asking why a nurse would want to be a chaplain,” she said. “To those folks I say, when God calls, all you have to do is answer.”