Chaplain (Col.) Peter Baktis, USA (Ret), is a native of Valley Stream, N.Y. He was ordained as a priest in the Orthodox Church in America on June 29, 1985. He entered the active-duty Army Chaplaincy with a direct commission in June 1990 at the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School, Fort Monmouth, N.J.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia College, Bronxville, N.Y. He holds a Master of Divinity Degree, Doctor of Ministry, from Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, N.Y., and The General Theological Seminary in New York City, and a Master of (Sacred) Theology from The General Theological Seminary, New York City. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

His military education includes the Defense Strategy Course, Command and General Staff Officer Course, Chaplain Officer Advance Course, Chaplain Officer Basic Course, Small Group Leadership Course, and Instructors Course. Deployments included duty in Iraq, Kuwait, Kosovo, and Bosnia. He was appointed as the pastor by the U.S. Army Europe commander for the prisoners held during the Kosovo Campaign, and was selected by the chief of chaplains to represent the Chaplain Corps as a member of the Operation Iraqi Freedom Study Group.

He has published over 17 articles and book reviews both in theological journals nationally and internationally.

Peter and his wife Jeanne (Komenko) have two children.