Jeff Struecker to join Southeastern faculty

Struecker, who received his Ph.D. from Southeastern in 2015, is the lead pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia and will remain in the pastorate while teaching at Southeastern.

Struecker’s role will include teaching graduate and doctoral intensives. He will co-teach his first Ph.D. seminar for Southeastern in January.

“I am thrilled to welcome Jeff Struecker to this faculty,” said Southeastern President Danny Akin. “A decorated Army Ranger who was recently inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, Dr. Struecker knows by training and experience the importance of wise and strategic leadership.”

Struecker said he is looking forward to teaching students how to become more effective leaders.

“I believe Jesus’ church deserves the best leaders in the world, not just marginal leaders, so I hope I can make an investment,” said Struecker.

Struecker has more than 22 years of military service, 10 years of which were served as private and platoon sergeant in the 75th Ranger Regiment.

During his time of service in Somalia, Struecker surrendered his life to the Lord and decided to become a chaplain in the Airborne and Ranger units, which he served for the last 10 years of his military service.

Most recently, Struecker was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in June 2017. The Ranger Hall of Fame honors those deceased or out of service for at least three years who have served in a Ranger unit during combat and have graduated from a U.S. Army Ranger course.

“Students sitting under his teaching will greatly benefit from the insights and wisdom of this godly man and national hero,” said Akin. “What a blessing from God it is to add Jeff to our team at Southeastern.”

Struecker desires to show students what it means to lead in a “God honoring, biblically appropriate way.”

“All leadership boils down to dealing with people and you have to really understand yourself and people if you want to lead effectively,” said Struecker.

Struecker has received many awards and commendations during his time of service, including the following: David L. Grange Best Ranger Competition in 1996; U.S. Army ROTC, Noncommissioned Officer of the year in 1998; Ranger Tab; Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Pathfinder Badge; Master Parachutists Wings; Military Freefall Master Parachutist Wings. His military experience includes operations such as Black Hawk Down in Somalia, Operation Desert Storm and more than a dozen tours throughout Afghanistan and Iraq.

Struecker has written five books. He and his wife, Dawn, have five children: Aaron, Jacob, Joseph, Abigail and Lydia.