Rock Island Today

Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) recently invited First Army Command Chaplain Jeff Zust to Springfield to deliver the House invocation, according to a press release.

“CH Zust delivered an excellent prayer to lead us off the House’s business on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend,” Swanson said after the Invocation, according to the release. “I was honored he accepted my invitation and felt this was most appropriate as we honor both God and the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. Military.”

Zust has served the Air Force and Army as a chaplain for 30 years in both the reserves and on active duty. He is a pastor in the Southwest Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He has a wife, five children and five grandchildren, with a sixth on the way.

Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) | Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) Illinois General Assembly Representative Biography

Zush holds a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University and master's degrees in divinity from Luther Northwestern Seminary, teaching from Mankato State University, ethics from Princeton Seminary, and national security and resourcing strategy from the National Defense University. He is also a graduate of numerous Air Force and Army schools and the Eisenhower School of the National Defense University.