Chaplain Bio
Chaplain Tom Panariello is a Navy veteran and served as an Aviation Electrician with Antisubmarine Warfare Squadron VS-38. During multiple WESTPAC deployments on board the USS Constellation, CV-64, he served as a flight deck troubleshooter for his squadron.
Upon leaving the Navy, Tom spent 40 years in the technology industry holding both engineering and managerial positions. During those 40 years he has also served bi-vocationally in various ministry roles. He is a graduate of DeVry University and Global University, Berean School of the Bible. Prior to retiring, he most recently served as Assistant Pastor at River of Life Church, Doylestown, PA overseeing Pastoral Care.
October 2026 Chaplain’s Blog
October brings my final month serving as Chaplain for DAV86. Our permanent Chaplain, Mark Schreiber who was on TAD, returns and will take comms as of November 1st. It’s been my honor serving as Chaplain in this temporary assignment.
In the Navy, TAD stands for temporary additional duty, the equivalent to TDY in other military branches. I, as many of you have served multiple TAD assignments. One such assignment was in the middle of a WESTPAC deployment on the USS Constellation. I was assigned TAD at Diego Garcia. This is a British owned island which sits below the tip of India in the Indian Ocean. It’s been used as a joint UK-US military base since 1970. A variety of sailor ratings were needed to support Carrier Air Wing 5. Some aircraft maintenance tasks required longer durations and additional effort which were better suited to being performed on land rather than in the carrier’s hangar bay.
The transition from working flight deck operations on the USS Constellation to the 17 square mile island of Diego Garcia was a very welcomed change. The beautiful beach and blue ocean on the island, fondly called “Fantasy Island, provided opportunity to swim, snorkel and enjoy the sun. We worked hard but enjoyed the change and even the opportunity to go bowling and enjoy a cold beer. But like all TAD’s, the change was temporary and several months later I transitioned back to my squadron and regular duty.
From a spiritual perspective the Bible calls this life a form of TAD. The Bible compares human life to a brief breath, a passing shadow, and a morning mist:
"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." - Psalm 39:4-5
“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” - James 4:14
"The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more." - Psalm 103:15-16
These scriptures are not meant to cause despair but to give us an eternal perspective. Because life on earth is fragile and temporary, God uses these reminders to help people measure their time wisely, to seek Him and focus on what truly matters.
Just as my temporary assignment to Diego Garcia ended and now my time as DAV86 Chaplain ends, our time on earth will also end. We will all face God when our TAD here on earth is completed -
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” - Hebrews 9:27
Please take time to consider this call to action and place your faith in Jesus Christ - your place in eternity will be dictated by the decision you make now:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” - John 3:16-17
Please know, there is a Chaplain at DAV86 available to meet, talk or just grab a cup of coffee with.
Chaplain Tom Panariello