Israel Gaither

On May 12, 2006, at the age of 61, Commissioner Israel L. Gaither was formally installed as the National Commander of The Salvation Army in the United States,[1] the first African American to serve in that capacity.

Prior to becoming Commander in the United States, Gaither was Chief of the Staff, the second-ranking officer at Salvation Army world headquarters in London.

He had also been the first Black divisional commander in the United States, with responsibility for southern New England and western Pennsylvania, and the first Black territorial commander, responsible for the Eastern states.

Gaither and Shue married in 1967, breaking ground as the first interracial marriage between Salvation Army officers in the United States.

[2] The Gaithers were officially retired from active service as Salvation Army Officers on October 31, 2010.