Anthony Rahaim

Senior Chaplain, Executive Director, and Founder.

Smoky Mountains Chaplaincy was started as an idea back in 2015 when Chaplain Tony was getting reacquainted with his faith; while also realizing that four decades of public service in both the military and law enforcement were coming to an end.  Several people of faith, including his pastor at the time, thought that Tony going into ministry might be a good fit for his ‘retirement’.

Chaplain Tony knew that he wanted to help people like himself realize that it was okay to have a faith life, a family, and a career.   He completed his seminary training through Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity; with a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, and a concentration in Community Chaplaincy. He also holds a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College in Law Enforcement and Psychology; and an Associate of Science from the Community College of Air Force in Security Administration.

He is a graduate of Pastoral Crisis Intervention I & II through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation;  did an academic year of Clinical Pastoral Education through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education; and completed Mental Health First Aid through the National Council for Mental Well-Being.

Along the way to starting Smoky Mountains Chaplaincy, he served as a men’s ministry coordinator, crisis chaplain, VA hospital chaplain, a hospice chaplain, and was the first ever ‘connections pastor’ for his church in Haywood County, NC. You can read more about his career on his LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arahaim/

He and his family live in western NC; and when not spending time with his family, he’s more than likely playing his bass guitar in a church band, or broadening his amateur radio skills as a licensed ham radio operator.

Our Board of Directors and Office Holders are a mix of current and retired military veterans, first responders, and people of faith; and are on file with the Secretary of State for North Carolina, and the Internal Revenue Service.