MAJ David Frommer in uniform

MAJ David Frommer

Jewish Chaplain

Instructor of Hebrew

david.frommer@westpoint.edu

Biography


A native of New York City, CH (MAJ) David Frommer graduated from Yale University in 2004, completing four semesters of Modern Hebrew and receiving his B.A. with Honors in History. After college, he enlisted as a Lone Soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, where he was assigned to the Nahal Infantry Brigade and served with distinction in the West Bank. He continued his Hebrew studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music in Jerusalem and New York, earning a Masters in Sacred Music and ordination as a Reform Jewish cantor in 2011. While in seminary, he commissioned in the New York Army National Guard as a Chaplain Candidate and completed the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course (CHBOLC) at the US Army Chaplain Center and School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Following his ordination, CH Frommer deployed overseas as the first cantor ever to serve as a chaplain in the US military, providing religious support for Jewish personnel stationed in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Jordan and Qatar. After returning from his deployment he transferred to the California Army National Guard where he served on DSCA activations in response to forest fires and the COVID pandemic, and as cantor at synagogues in Santa Rosa and San Francisco. In addition to CHBOLC, his military education includes the Chaplain Captains Career Course, the Command and General Staff Officer Common Core Course, and the Operational Religious Support Leadership Course (honor graduate). This past summer he transferred into the Regular Army to begin his current assignment as Jewish Chaplain at the US Military Academy at West Point. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (3), Air Force Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, and NATO ISAF Medal. He lives on post at West Point with his wife, Rabbi Carla Fenves, and their three children.