Dondi E. Costin Explained

Dondi E. Costin
Birth Date:21 August 1964
Birth Place:Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.
Office:6th President of Liberty University
Termstart:March 31, 2023
Predecessor:Jerry Prevo
Office1:3rd President of Charleston Southern University
Term Start1:November 2, 2018
Term End1:October 27, 2023
Predecessor1:Jairy C. Hunter
Successor1:Keith Faulkner
Signature:Dondi E. Costin signature.svg
Signature Alt:Cursive signature of Dondi E. Costin
Serviceyears:1986–2018
Rank:Major general
Commands:U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps (Chief of Chaplains)

Dondi Enos Costin (born August 21, 1964) is an American academic, Baptist minister, and former major general in the United States Air Force. He has led the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps and served as Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force from 2015 to 2018. He retired effective September 1, 2018, and served as president of Charleston Southern University until June 30, 2023. On March 31, 2023, he was named president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.[1]

Early life and education

Costin was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. He attended Emsley A. Laney High School and then the United States Air Force Academy, receiving a bachelor's degree in operations research.[2] [3] After graduating, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1986.

He received his Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He also holds Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, as well as a Master of Arts in Counseling from Liberty University. His military education was also at the U.S. Air Force Academic Instructor School, the Squadron Officer School, and the Air War College.[4]

Career

Costin served as a squadron-level scientific analyst evaluating air-to-ground precision guided munitions, chief of scientific analysis on a major command headquarters staff, and assistant professor of aerospace studies. He completed a competitive category transfer into the Air Force Chaplain Corps in 1996.[5]

Costin has since served as Protestant chaplain for Air Force Basic Military Training, flight line chaplain and then senior flight line chaplain for both special operations and conventional forces in Europe, senior Protestant chaplain, readiness instructor/ evaluator preparing Chaplain Corps personnel for worldwide deployment, Air Staff branch chief, wing chaplain, command chaplain for the air component mission in Southwest Asia, and command chaplain for Pacific Air Forces. An ordained Southern Baptist minister, Costin is endorsed by the Liberty Baptist Fellowship to serve as an Air Force Chaplain. He was double promoted from the rank of colonel to major general to assume the position of Chief of Chaplains in August 2015.[6]

Awards and decorations


BadgeAir Force Christian Chaplain Badge
BadgeSenior Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
1st RowAir Force Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal
2nd RowMeritorious Service Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clustersJoint Service Achievement MedalAir Force Achievement Medal
3rd RowJoint Meritorious Unit AwardGallant Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device, one silver and two bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Organizational Excellence Award with four oak leaf clusters
4th RowAir Force Recognition RibbonNational Defense Service Medal with bronze service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalKosovo Campaign Medal with service star
5th RowAfghanistan Campaign Medal with three service starsGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service Medal
6th RowArmed Forces Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalMilitary Outstanding Volunteer Service MedalAir and Space Campaign Medal with service star
7th RowNuclear Deterrence Operations Service MedalAir Force Overseas Service Ribbon - Short TourAir Force Overseas Service Ribbon - Long Tour with two oak leaf clustersAir Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
8th RowAir Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with silver and three bronze oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonAir Force Training RibbonNATO Medal for service with ISAF
BadgeHeadquarters Air Force badge

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'I Am Beyond Grateful': Liberty University Names New President, Chancellor in Wake of Jerry Falwell Scandal . 31 March 2023 .
  2. https://www.charlestonmercury.com/single-post/2018/10/03/meet-dondi-e-costin-of-charleston-southern-university Meet Dondi E. Costin of Charleston Southern University
  3. News: Svrluga . Susan . 2023-04-01 . Liberty University taps S.C. college leader, Air Force veteran as president . 2024-03-08 . . en-US . 0190-8286.
  4. Web site: Chaplain (Major General) Dondi e. Costin.
  5. Web site: CHAPLAIN DONDI E. COSTIN . 2023-10-16 . Air Force . en-US.
  6. Web site: AF colonel to get double promotion to 2-star general for top chaplain post – Stripes Japan.