EDUCATION
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
Ph.D. Public Policy Oct 2024
Navy War College, Providence, Rhode Island
M.A. National Security Studies May 2013
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California
D.MIN Military Ministry May 2012
Golden Gate Baptist Seminary Mill Valley, California
Th.M. Historical Theological Studies December 2002
M.A. Intercultural Studies December 1998
M.DIV. Biblical Languages December 1998
Grand Canyon University Phoenix, Arizona
B.A. Cum Laude Commercial Music December 1995
Academic Appointments & Relevant Employment
Assistant Professor, Liberty University; Rawlins School of Divinity Online; 2013 to Present
Military Chaplain, United States Navy; 2004-Present
Military Instructor, Central Texas College; Camp Pendleton, CA; 2007-2009
Personal Banker, Bank of America, Phoenix, AZ; 2002-2004
Pastor, Bayside Community Church, Novato, CA; 1998-2002
Military Assignments–Current Rank Navy Captain
NAVCENT/5th Fleet, Manama, Bahrain, Force/Fleet Chaplain (Feb 2025 – Present)
United States Fleet Forces Command, FORCE CHAPLAIN CTF-80 (2023 – Jan 2025)
USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3), GROUP CHAPLAIN (2020 – 2023)
Naval Constructions Group ONE, GROUP Chaplain (2018 – 2020)
Chaplains Religious Education Development Operation (CREDO) Navy Region Europe,
Africa, and Southwest Asia, DIRECTOR (2015 – 2018)
Naval Special Warfare GROUP TWO, SUPERVISORY Chaplain (2012 – 2015)
Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN, COMMAND Chaplain (2011 – 2012)
First Marine Special Operations Battalion (MSOB), COMMAND CHAPLAIN (2009 – 2011)
USS BATAAN (LHD-5), SHIP’S Chaplain (2007 – 2009)
1st MARINE Logistics GROUP (1stMLG), COMMAND Chaplain (2004 – 2007)
Publications
Cook, T.T. and Kabala Z. Boleslaw. 2025. “A Jeffersonian Approach to Civic Engagement,
Through Civic Education and the Flexibility of the Natural Law,” Laws. Ed. Marcin J.
Schroeder. 7:6. Basel, Switzerland (Pending Peer-review).
Cook, T.T., 2024. The Nature of Self-Evident Equality in the Declaration of Independence and
Its Implications for Jeffersonian Federalism. Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.
Kabala, Boleslaw Z. and Thomas Cook. 2022. “Hobbes and Spinoza on Sovereign Education.”
Philosophies. Ed. Marcin J. Schroeder. 7:6. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI.
Cook, T.T., 2012 A Strategy for Connecting Military Families to the Local Church Through the
Military Evangelist. Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.
Cook, T.T. 2002. Toward a Theology of Divine Causality: An Examination of the Barren Womb
Motif and Its Significance for Articulating the Nature of Divine Causality in Human
Procreation. Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, CA.
Peer Review and Editing Positions
Religions, MDPI–Special Editions Editor (2025, Pending)
Philosophies, MDPI–Peer Reviewer (2024 – Present)
Eleutheria Journal, Liberty University—Peer Reviewer (2023 – Present).
Scholarly Presentations
“The Influence of Aquinas on Thomas Jefferson’s Understanding of Self-Evident Equality”
Southern Political Science Association Conference Within a Conference on “Medieval
Political Thought.” June 2023
Teaching Experience
Liberty University
Assistant Professor
- CHPL 689 Military Chaplaincy, 2025-Present (Prospective SME)
- CHPL 500 Introduction to Chaplaincy Ministry, 2023-Present
- GLST 290 Cultural Anthropology, 2016 – Present; Multiple sections per semester—Fall, Spring, and Summer; 20-24 student per section
- GLST 220 Intercultural Communication 2022 – Present
- GLST 290 Cultural Anthropology SME, 2017-2019
- GLST 200 Introduction to Global Studies, 2016 – 2020; Summer Terms; 20-24 students per term
- THEO 104 Introduction to Theology Survey, Fall 2024
- APOL104 Apologetics, 2013-2016; Multiple sections per semester—Fall, Spring, and Summer; 20-24 students per section
- D.Min. Reader for Clara Garcia 2023 – Present (In Progress)
- D.Min. Reader for Calvin Sutphin, May 2020 (Complete)
- D.Min. Committee Chair for Conner Brew 2023-2024 (Complete)
- D.Min. Committee Chair for Margorie Dent 2020 – 2022 (Complete)
- D.Min. Committee Chair for Susan Fair, 2019-2021 (Complete)
- D.Min. Committee Chair for Kim Eun Taik 2019 – 2022 (Complete)
- D.Min. Committee Chair for Cesar Cano 2019 – 2022 (Complete)
- D.Min. Committee Chair for Scott Willis, 2018-2020 (Complete)
- Master’s Thesis Mentor and Reader, (3 students one in progress)
United States Navy
Fleet Training Officer, Commander Task Force–80, U. S. Fleet Forces Command
- Responsible for Training and Certification for deployment of all Carrier Strike Groups, Amphibious Strike Groups, and Independent Deployers from the East Coast to 5th Fleet
- Developed and implemented training requirements for Fleet Religious Ministry for the Fleet, across all phases of combat operations at sea
Director, Chaplain Religious Enrichment Development Operations (CREDO)
- Directed development of Adult and Family Relationship and Resiliency Training at Commander Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA); curriculum-based, peer-reviewed training on thirteen bases to over 10,000 servicemembers and their families annually
- Trained/certified five civilians, 30 Chaplains, and 12 Enlisted personnel to deliver a catalog of peer-reviewed curriculum across three continents
Curriculum Developer, Special Projects-Navy Chief of Chaplains
- Resiliency, relationship, and stress control curriculum for delivery to 950 Chaplains and direct accessions to the Navy for use across the Navy
- Training for Pacific Fleet Chaplains to prepare them for execution sociological field work in the third and fourth island chains of the Pacific—Key Religious Leader Engagement (KRLE) as a part of the State Department’s strategy for religious engagement in the Pacific
- Skills-based training for Pacific Fleet Chaplains in “Exigent Burial at Sea”, “Religious and Cultural Advisement to Commanders”, and “An Introductory Overview to Expeditionary Operations in the Pacific”
University Teams and Services
Learning Outcome review for LUO Professional Chaplaincy Program(2024)–Assessment of student ability to select scripture, evaluate context, and apply to a specific theological doctrine. Produced a plan for revision of course requirements toward completion of the cognate.
Languages
English (Native), Latin (one year), Koine Greek (three years), Classical Hebrew (three years)
Other Non-Military Credentials & Professional Organization Membership
safeTALK Instructor–Suicide Prevention Instructor, Lifeworks Education Network
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Instructor (ASIST), Lifeworks Education Network
PREP Marriage Education Instructor, PREP Inc.—Master Trainer
PAIRS, Relationship Instructor, Purpose Built Families Foundation
MBTI Facilitator
DISC Facilitator
Franklin/Covey Facilitator—“Leading at the Speed of Trust”
Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity
Evangelical Theological Society
Military Chaplains Association-United States of America International Thespian Society