• New Chief of the Staff
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
By COMMISSIONER EDWARD HILL Chief of the Staff
On behalf of the General, I am happy to announce that he has chosen and appointed Commissioner Garth Niemand to be the Chief of the Staff and Commissioner Patti Niemand to be World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, effective from 1 October 2026.
They will succeed my wife, Commissioner Shelley Hill, and I, who will be retiring from active officer service.
Commissioners Garth and Patti Niemand entered The Salvation Army Training College in 1998 and were ordained and commissioned as Lieutenants in 1999 as members of the Forward 2000 Session in the Southern Africa Territory.
Their ministry began with three years of corps and community service leadership at a Corps and Goodwill Centre in Pietermaritzburg. In 2003, as captains, they were appointed Corps Officers of Johannesburg City Corps. From 2004 to 2008, they also served as Administrators of Johannesburg Social Services, during which time Garth additionally fulfilled responsibilities as Sectional Youth Officer.
In 2008, both officers were appointed to Territorial Headquarters. Garth became Territorial Public Relations Secretary, and Patti was appointed Territorial Planned Giving and Legacy Director.
In 2010, Garth assumed the role of Assistant Secretary for Business Administration, and in 2011 Garth and Patti were appointed Territorial Secretary for Business Administration and Territorial Social Programme Secretary, respectively. Throughout this period, both contributed significantly to the development of future officers through regular lecturing at the College for Officer Training.
In 2015, now serving as majors, they were appointed to the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory. Garth became the territory’s first Territorial Secretary for Business Administration, and Patti served as Assistant Programme Secretary (Social). In January 2018, Patti was appointed Territorial Secretary for Programme.
Later that year, on 1 November 2018, Garth and Patti were appointed Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, respectively, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 2019, Patti also assumed responsibility as Territorial Secretary for Leader Development.
On 1 May 2020, as colonels, they were appointed Territorial Leaders of the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory.
On 1 September 2023, they were appointed as commissioners to International Headquarters, where Garth serves as International Secretary for Business Administration and Patti as World Secretary for Spiritual Life Development.
Garth holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Theology, and qualifications in Accounting and Leadership. Patti holds a Bachelor of Theology and an Ascent Leadership Certificate.
Commissioner Garth Niemand will be the first Chief of the Staff from a supported territory, and the first from Africa.
I know you will join me in assuring Commissioners Niemand of our prayers and support as they prepare, both in heart and mind, to assume the significant responsibilities that will be entrusted to them in service to our international leaders and the worldwide mission of The Salvation Army.
