Abuhena Saifulislam

Navy chaplain, Abuhena Saifulislam was the first Muslim chaplain to be assigned to the Marine Corps, and also helped to organize the Marines’ first iftar in 2005. Immigrating to the U.S. in 1989 with a master’s degree in commerce, he first enlisted in the Navy as a payroll specialist in 1992, and later signed up for a chaplain’s candidate program after becoming a naturalized citizen. He has served in Guantanamo Bay, ministering to detainees, and has been awarded two Joint Service Commendation Medals. Updated 2012