Lieutenant Commander Gregory Lesher was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.  He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in International Studies and a Master of International Development both at the University of Denver, CO, and a Master of Divinity at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, CO.  He was ordained in 2015 and is endorsed for chaplaincy through the Archdiocese for the Military Services. 

LCDR Lesher was commissioned as LTJG and completed Chaplain Corps training in Fort Jackson, SC in July 2018.  He reported to Combat Logistics Battalion 6 at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC.  He deployed to Sigonella, Sicily from 2019-2020 as part of the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa.  LT Lesher then reported to the Naval Support Activity Bahrain Base Chapel, Manama, Bahrain, in June 2021, as the Deputy Chaplain.  He assumed his position as Division Officer for the USS Gerald R. Ford Command Religious Ministry Department in 2023, joining the crew while deployed in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.  He deployed again in 2025 to 6^th Fleet with the USS Gerald R. Ford.  In NOV 2025 he assumed his current position as Deputy Command Chaplain at the United States Coast Guard Academy.      

LCDR Lesher’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal, as well as other personal and unit awards.