David Bynum, D.Min.

Military Research Scientist, Suicide CPR Initiative

David Bynum was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve on 19 Sep 1995 and began his active duty service on 1 Oct 1995 at the Chaplain School in Newport, RI.

His initial assignment was with 3d Med Bn, 3d FSSG in Okinawa, Japan from December 1995 to October 1998 where he served as Battalion Chaplain. During this tour Chaplain Bynum served as the Combat Service Support Detachment Chaplain for Ulchi Focus Lens 1996 in Pohang, Korea and deployed as the Command Chaplain with the Special Marine Air Ground Task Force assigned to JTF Operation Pacific Haven in Guam from December 1996 to March 1997.

Returning to the States in 1998, he served as the Wing Chaplain at NAS Kingsville from October 1998 to July 2002. After the events of September 11, 2001, he served on the Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander staff at 5th Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain from October 2001 to March 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Having selected for LCDR in August 2001, Chaplain Bynum was given his next assignment of post-graduate education at Duke University. He pinned on LCDR on 1 Jul 2002 and moved on to Duke where he completed a Master of Theology degree in Religion in Culture, May 2003. Upon completion of his training at Duke, he reported to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific in Singapore as Staff Chaplain from June 2003 to June 2006. He augmented to the Regular Navy in May 2005.

Chaplain Bynum reported to USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) in July 2006 as Staff Chaplain, completing two WESTPAC deployments. During this tour he selected for Commander and promoted on 1 June 2008.

After the Supervisory Chaplain’s Course at Newport, RI in June 2008, Chaplain Bynum served from July 2008 to April 2011 as Force Chaplain for Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet.

From May 2011 to April 2012 Chaplain Bynum served as the Deputy Command Chaplain for U.S. Forces Afghanistan in Kabul in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He graduated in the 2013 class at the National War College in Washington, DC with a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies. His next tour was Director, Plans and Operations in the office of the Chief of Chaplains from 2013-2016. He was promoted to Captain on 1 September 2013.

Chaplain Bynum served as Fleet Chaplain, US Pacific Fleet from 2016 to 2020. He reported to his final assignment as Force Chaplain, Commander, Navy Installations Command on 27 February 2020 and retired from the Navy on 1 Oct 2023.

Dr. Bynum served as a Military Research Scientist in the Suicide CPR Initiative with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation within the Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD from August 2024 to Aug 2025. His current position is as a Military Research Scientist in the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation within the Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Prior to the military, he served in civilian ministry for 10 years at Elm Mott, TX and Hearne, TX.