COMMISSIONERS BILL and GWEN LUTTRELL

Following their appointments at International Headquarters as International Secretary and Zonal Secretary, Women's Organizations for the Americas and Caribbean Zone respectively, Commissioners Bill and Gwen Luttrell were appointed as the Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women's Organizations in the Canada and Bermuda Territory as of March 1, 2000.  Commissioner Gwen Luttrell is currently the Territorial President of Women’s Ministries effective July 1, 2002.

As a nine-year-old, Bill Luttrell met The Salvation Army through the Greeley (Colorado) Corps' afternoon Sunday school. Following his own conversion, he had the joy of introducing his mother to Christ and was later privileged to share in her enrolment as a Salvation Army soldier.

Commissioner Gwen Luttrell is the daughter of distinguished local officers, Breck and Beulah Shinn, and the granddaughter of Adjutant and Mrs. Burt Knudson.

Bill entered the "Courageous" Session at the School for Officers' Training in San Francisco, California, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1958. His first appointment was to the Long Beach (California) Corps, where he met his wife-to-be, Gwendolyn Shinn. They were married June 23, 1962, following Gwen's commissioning with the 'Soldiers of Christ" Session.

From the beginning, the Latrell’s have earned the love and respect of the officers, soldiers and friends of the Army. Before being appointed as divisional leaders, they served in a broad spectrum of ministries: corps officers in California and Oregon; four challenging, rewarding (sometimes heart-breaking) years at the Army's Manhattan Project, a residential treatment program ministering to youthful substance abusers; four years at the School for Officers' Training where, as Assistant Principal, the then Captain Bill Luttrell orchestrated the training school's move from San Francisco to Rancho Palos Verdes, California; as Divisional Secretary and Assistant Home League Secretary in two divisions; and as County Co-ordinators for San Diego County, California.

During their ministry as divisional leaders for the Hawaiian Islands Division the work of the Army was further extended in the Marshall Islands. The opening of the Majuro Corps laid the groundwork for the future development of the Army in the Central Pacific. In Hawaii, plans were initiated for a major senior housing project, and the division's important social services ministry was enhanced through the reorganization of the division's children's facilities and residential programs.

In 1990 Majors Bill and Gwen Luttrell returned to the staff of the School for Officers' Training as Principal and Director of Special Services. They provided a role model of servant leadership for a generation of future Salvation Army leaders, including the largest session of cadets commissioned in the USA Western Territory since 1932.

New vistas for ministry opened to Lieut. -Colonels Bill and Gwen Luttrell with their 1994 appointments to territorial headquarters. As Secretary for Personnel, the Salvation Army's ministry to its officers and their families and to the Army's many employees were of critical importance to Colonel Bill Luttrell. He was instrumental in establishing the territory's Pastoral Care ministry.

As Territorial Women's Ministries Secretary, Colonel Gwen Luttrell's role was also ministry-focused.   She was responsible for the first Territorial Women Officers' Conference, promoted and developed the enhancement of women's ministries, and provided leadership that focuses on the need for women officers to have opportunity for ministry in meaningful, significant appointments based on their own abilities.

In February 1998 as Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women's Organizations, their reputations for personal integrity, spiritual commitment and love for people created a platform from which they were able to support and advance the territory's goals of service to God through service to humanity.

Commissioners Bill and Gwen Luttrell each hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Long Beach. Commissioner Bill Luttrell was a delegate to the International College for Officers in 1974.