WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- At the National Air and Space Intelligence Center on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Capt. Cliff Mullen serves as a pillar of support for NASIC members and their families, serving as the center’s chaplain. His path to becoming a military chaplain has been both challenging and transformative, shaped by personal experiences and a deep desire to uplift others.
Growing up, Mullen recognized the power of mentorship and guidance in shaping one's future. His own desire to offer that same kind of support to others became a driving force behind his decision to enter ministry and, later, to join the Chaplain Corps.
Mullen’s commitment to ministry wasn’t immediate but evolved over time.
Serving as a pastor in Spokane, Washington, he had the opportunity to meet and support some of the Airmen stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.
He witnessed the toll that high-stress military environments took on these Airmen, particularly one who worked at Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape school.
“I wanted to be in a position to know the whole experience so that I could offer the intervention that would really get at the heart of the problem,” he said, marking the beginning of his journey toward the Chaplain Corps.
That journey, however, would prove anything but straightforward. Despite already holding a master’s degree and several years of professional experience, the Chaplain recruiting office initially rejected his credentials, forcing him to go back to school and adapt his plans.
At the same time, he was raising two young children, with a third on the way, and navigating a career transition that involved relocating and adjusting to an overwhelming new job.
“It was probably the most stressful and challenging time of my adult life,” he said.
Despite that, his perseverance paid off. After years of hard work and setbacks, he finally reached Officer Training School, ready to begin his new life as a military chaplain.
In his role at NASIC, Mullen provides spiritual guidance, offers comfort during challenging times, and fosters a sense of community among service members.
“A persistent challenge to building a positive culture in the Air Force is the tension between the needs of the mission and the needs of people,” said Mullen.
He acknowledges that these two ideals often pull in fundamentally different directions, stressing the demanding nature of work in the Air Force and how that can potentially affect Airmen and their families.
“All my work is rooted in Solution-Focused Theory and Systems Theory,” he said. “In non-technical terms, that means my first question I want to bring to the surface is what adaptations we can make to take a step towards a future that is better than the current moment. My second question is, if there is nothing we can change about the situation, what adaptations can we identify within ourselves that will alter our relationship with the situation in a positive way.”
Mullen also embraces his role as mentor, especially when it comes to providing support during difficult moments.
One moment in his career stands out to him, though he never learned the full story. During a routine walk through a squadron’s work area, he struck up a conversation with an Airman. The conversation, seemingly ordinary to Mullen, ended up altering the Airman’s life in profound ways.
“The Airman had been contemplating suicide,” Mullen recalled. “After our chat, they sought help and found a path toward healing. It’s just one of many conversations I’ve had, but that’s the beauty of my work. When I’m doing it right, there’s nothing planned or contrived—just people connecting with people.”
This focus on personal connection and mentorship ties back to his belief that doubt is not to be feared but embraced.
“Doubt isn’t the enemy,” he said. “It’s an invitation to dig deeper. Behind every doubt is a chance to explore what really matters and to challenge yourself.”
This mindset helped him navigate his ten-year journey toward becoming a chaplain, particularly during the most difficult times when his plans didn’t unfold as he hoped.
Instead of letting those setbacks break his resolve, Mullen leaned into his doubts, using them as a catalyst for growth.
Looking to the future, Mullen envisions an even more integrated role for chaplains at NASIC. He hopes to see chaplains fully embedded in the mission and culture, fostering an environment where individuals are empowered to embrace their fullest potential.
“That’s what sets our nation apart from our adversaries – the relentless belief that the individual matters,” he said. “More than that, the individual has the capacity to grow, change, evolve, and flourish. When that happens, we become so much more than the sum of our parts.”