 In the summer of 2005, he began a one-year program as a student of Clinical Pastoral Education at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2005, and was appointed an episcopal vicar for the Archdiocese for the Military Services in 2006.In the summer of 2006, Spencer was assigned to serve as the senior clinician at the 121st Combat Support Hospital, the deputy 18th MEDCOM command chaplain, and the Catholic pastor of Yongson in Seoul.