George Youstra
January 2012
George transferred his endorsement to the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches this past year and serves as Wing Chaplain (senior chaplain) at Beal Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. Endorsing Agent John Schumacher notes that Lt Col Youstra is an outstanding chaplain and officer. George and Rose were able to attend National Conference this past summer in Wooster, OH and meet fellow Grace Brethren Chaplains and their wives. He is 6’8” and so makes a considerable “presence” where ever he goes. Schumacher adds that George is a superb role model for the younger chaplains. He and Rose have led a number of marriage enrichment retreats for his airmen. These retreats have reached out to over 500 of airmen and their wives. George and Rose deeply appreciate your prayers in their behalf!
Chaplain, Lt. Colonel, George Youstra is the Wing Chaplain, Beale Air Force Base, California. Chaplain Youstra is responsible for ensuring religious freedom and accommodation for the 4,500 military personnel stationed at Beale AFB. Before arriving at Beale, Chaplain Youstra directed the Character and Leadership programs at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In this capacity, Chaplain Youstra developed and rewrote the entire Character and Leadership curriculum for over 4000 Academy Cadets. He was also responsible for the training of the faculty and staff at USAFA in Character and Leadership Education theory and practice.
Chaplain Youstra spent the first 14 years of his military career serving in the United States Army where he served as a Special Forces, Infantry, Military Police Officer and Chaplain. He has been an Infantry Company Commander, Special Force Detachment Commander & Battalion Chaplain. Chaplain Youstra entered the Air Force Chaplain Corps in 1998. He has been deployed to Iraq and recently returned from Afghanistan where he supervised the largest Air Force chapel staff in the country and the Combined Joint Theater Hospital chapel staff.
Chaplain Youstra was born in Greenville, SC. He is married to the former Rose Workman, of Normal, IL. They have two sons, George & Taylor. Chaplain Youstra is a member of the Brighton Chapel Grace Brethren Church in northern Indiana where he pastored from 1991-1998.