Chad Zielinski

Chad William Zielinski (born September 8, 1964) is a Catholic bishop in the United States. Since 2014, he has served as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks in the state of Alaska.

Early life and education
Chad William Zielinski was born the eldest of five children to Donald and Linda Zielinski in Detroit, Michigan. A short time later, the family moved to a farm near Alpena, Michigan. After he graduated from Alpena High School, Zielinski joined the United States Air Force in 1982. While he was stationed in Idaho, he attended Boise State University and Park College. After he completed his military service, Zielinski enrolled in Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy. He studied for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Zielinski was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Gaylord on June 8, 1996, by Bishop Patrick R. Cooney.

Priesthood
After ordination, Zielinski served as the parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception parish in Traverse City from 1996 to 1998. He then served as the pastor of St. Philip Neri parish in Empire and St. Rita-St. Joseph parish in Maple City. Zielinski was elected to the Presbyteral Council in 1999. Beginning in 2000, he also served as the pastor for administrative affairs of the Diocesan Mission to Hispanics. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Bishop Cooney released Zielinski from the diocese to serve in the Archdiocese for the Military Services as an Air Force chaplain. He served as a chaplain at the Grand Forks Air Force Base in Grand Forks, North Dakota, from 2002 to 2003 and at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, from 2003 to 2005. He was next assigned to HQ Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph Air Force Base in Schertz, Texas, followed by Cadet Chaplain at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from 2009 to 2012. From 2012 to 2014 he served as chaplain at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Bishop of Fairbanks
Pope Francis named Zielinski the bishop of Fairbanks on November 8, 2014. He was consecrated on December 15, 2014, by Archbishop Roger Schwietz, O.M.I., of Anchorage. Archbishop Timothy Broglio for the Military Services, USA, and Bishop Steven J. Raica of Gaylord were the principal co-consecrators. The liturgy was held in the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.