COCOA, FL, July 31, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Colonel Raymond H. Hawkins, MDiv, CPE, OCA, retired from the U.S. Air Force, was selected by Marquis Who's Who for a prominent feature in the July 2026 Tampa/Sarasota, Florida, regional issue of TIME magazine.

Feeling a calling to ministry at just 17 years old, Col. Hawkins has devoted more than 50 years to an unwavering sense of duty — first to his country, and then to his faith. Uncertain where to begin in ministry, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1971 and later became an aircraft electrician and technician for the U.S. Navy.

While serving in New Orleans with the U.S. Marines, Col. Hawkins had a life-changing experience. One day, he felt compelled to pull over to visit a church he drove by every day on his way to work. The church was holding a revival that day, and Col. Hawkins was deeply moved to take part, setting out on a lifelong path of faith and purpose. Subsequently, he founded the Calvary United Pentecostal Church in 1982 and served as its pastor until 1987.

Returning to military service in 1989, Col. Hawkins entered the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps. He remained with the Air Force for 16 years, rising to the rank of major before retiring in 2005. From there, Col. Hawkins co-founded the Occupational Chaplains of America (OCA), a group dedicated to mentoring and supporting individuals entering the field of chaplaincy. Leading the organization as its director until 2021, he trained approximately 80 ministers and helped the OCA grow from eight chaplains to over 350.

Though Col. Hawkins has been retired from his chaplain work since 2021, he remains committed to ministry. He is currently focused on the nonprofit, Community Assistance and Resource for Enhancement (CARE) Ministries Inc., which was founded in February 2026. Serving Brevard County, the 501(c)(3) supplies resources for military families, veterans, orphans and homeless populations. Col. Hawkins acts as the ministry's president and looks forward to expanding operations in the near future.

In recognition of his service and professional efforts, Col. Hawkins was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who, and included among those inducted into Who's Who of Top Military Professionals and Who's Who of Humanitarians and Philanthropists. He also received a placement in The Wall Street Journal in January 2026 and was featured in an article released in association with Apple News/Grit Daily.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Col. Hawkins obtained a bachelor's degree in humanities and theology from Campbell University, followed by a Master of Divinity in pastoral care and evangelism from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1991. He returned to school in 2000, earning a second bachelor's degree in clinical, counseling and applied psychology through the U.S. Air Force clinical pastoral education program.

SPREADING THE MESSAGE
Col. Hawkins found a broader audience in 2025, when he published his first book, "Abounding in Glory! Get a Glimpse of God's Glory." This volume details his journey from a difficult home life during childhood to being sent to an orphanage with his siblings and then discovering meaning in his relationship with God. Col. Hawkins has found pastoral CARE to be a gratifying method of developing his ministry in 2026. He is currently considering writing a second book. Above all else, he aspires to share one message with the world: "All glory to God!"

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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