▁the ▁ 9 2 nd ▁Field ▁Hospital ▁in ▁Baltimore ▁and ▁the ▁A viation ▁Brigade ▁of ▁the ▁Maryland ▁Army ▁National ▁Guard . ▁Following ▁his ▁completion ▁of ▁the ▁Chap lain ▁Officer ▁Adv ance ▁Cour se ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁Sp encer ▁served ▁a ▁deployment ▁in ▁Europe ▁in ▁support ▁of ▁Bos nia ▁as ▁a ▁National ▁Gu ards man . ▁From ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁he ▁was ▁administrator ▁of ▁St . ▁Peter ▁the ▁Apost le ▁Church ▁in ▁Oak land . ▁ ▁Sp encer ▁returned ▁to ▁active ▁duty ▁min istry ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁and ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Engine er ▁Brigade ▁chap lain ▁at ▁Camp ▁How ze ▁in ▁South ▁Korea . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁he ▁served ▁a ▁deployment ▁in ▁Egypt ▁supporting ▁the ▁Fort ▁B rag g ▁mission ▁in ▁the ▁S ina i ▁Pen ins ula . ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁he ▁was ▁an ▁official ▁of ▁the ▁Pent agon ▁Office ▁of ▁Army ▁Chief ▁Chap la ins , ▁and ▁served ▁a ▁deployment ▁tour ▁in ▁Ira q ▁with ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Caval ry ▁Division . ▁In ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁he ▁began ▁a ▁one - year ▁program ▁as ▁a ▁student ▁of ▁C lin ical ▁Past oral ▁Education ▁at ▁the ▁Walter ▁Re ed ▁Army ▁Medical ▁Center ▁in ▁Washington , ▁D . C . ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁lieutenant ▁colon el ▁in ▁