PFM Hires Retired Navy Rear Admiral to Run Ministry’s Day-to-Day Operations

Curtis Kemp Joins World's Largest Outreach to Prisoners, Ex-Offenders, and Their Families as New COO

LANSDOWNE, Va., May 10, 2007—After a one-year search, PFM has announced the hiring of Curtis A. Kemp, RADM, USN (Ret.) as its chief operating officer.

Through its divisions, Prison Fellowship and BreakPoint, PFM brings hope that lives, communities, and the culture can be transformed.

Kemp arrives at PFM after a successful 34-year career with the U.S. Navy. He brings 18 years of executive management experience - including serving as CEO of five naval organizations - to this new endeavor as he focuses on leading the day-to-day operations of PFM. Kemp's hiring will allow Mark Earley, who has served as the organization's president and CEO since 2002, to have a more strategic focus and devote more time to speaking and writing.

"Curt's skills in leadership, strategic planning, and team-building were honed during his extraordinary 34-year Navy career," said Earley. "PFM is indeed blessed to have found someone with such proven success in the day-to-day management of large organizations and staffs. His leadership skills and spiritual maturity further solidify the leadership of this ministry for the future."

Kemp recently retired from the Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral. His last assignment was as president of the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey, an organization that conducts assessments of all U.S. ships and submarines. During his Navy tenure, Kemp also served as:
 

• Commander of a U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group (2001-2002)

• Program Executive Officer for Undersea Systems (1999-2001)

• Executive Assistant to Vice Chief of Naval Operations
  (1997-1999)

• Chief of Staff to Navy Fleet Commander (1995-1997)

• Ships' Squadron Commander (1993-1995)

• Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Joint Military Matters (1992-1993)

• Ship Commanding Officer (1990-1992)

• Various positions on ships and ashore (1972-1989)

Kemp is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a master's degree in foreign affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.

He has served on the board of Cadence International Ministry and on the executive committee of Military Ministries. He has been married to his wife, Ann, for 33 years. They have two grown children, Ian and Casey. 

PFM was founded by former Nixon aide Chuck Colson in 1976. Through Prison Fellowship, the world's largest prisoner-focused organization, PFM brings life-changing hope to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families across the United States and in 110 countries.  Through BreakPoint, PFM equips Christians to transform their communities. 

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