The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadcast array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.
The Salvation Army’s services reach virtually into every zip code in America through the involvement of over 3.5 million volunteers, including 60,000 local community advisory organization members.
COMMISSIONER MERLE HEATWOLE, NATIONAL COMMANDER
Commissioner Merle Heatwole is the National Commander of The Salvation Army in the United States of America. He assumed this appointment on March 1, 2025.
Immediately preceding this appointment Merle served as Territorial Commander of the Latin America North Territory.
Merle is the son of Salvation Army officers, Lt. Colonels Merle L. and Vivian Heatwole. He met his wife, Commissioner Dawn Heatwole, National Secretary for Program when their parents were both stationed at the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Divisional Headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were married in 1981, entered the College for Officer Training the next year and were commissioned in 1984 as a part of the Servants of God session.
Merle earned a bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., and was certified to teach secondary mathematics. In 2008 he was selected to be a delegate in the 196th session of the International College for Officers in London, England.
The Heatwoles served in three appointments as corps officers in St. Cloud, Minn. (1984-88), Peoria, Ill. (1988-91) and Topeka, Kan. (1991-93). In 1993, Merle was appointed as Divisional Youth and Candidates’ Secretary in the Kansas and Western Missouri Division in Kansas City, Mo. In 1996, he was appointed as the Divisional Secretary in the Western Michigan and Northern Indiana Division in Grand Rapids, Mich.
In 2000, Merle was appointed to Territorial Headquarters in the USA Central as Territorial Youth and Candidates’ Secretary, and in 2001, he was appointed as Territorial Corps Mission and Adult Ministries Secretary.
In 2003, Merle was appointed as the Divisional Commander of the Heartland Division in Peoria, Ill., followed by an appointment in 2007 as Divisional Commander of the Western Division in Omaha, Neb.
In 2009, Merle was once again appointed to Territorial Headquarters in the USA Central as the Secretary for Business Administration followed by an appointment in 2011 as Chief Secretary in the USA Central Territory. In 2014, he was appointed as National Chief Secretary at National Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
In 2015, Merle was appointed as International Secretary for the Americas and Caribbean Zone at International Headquarters in London, England and was promoted to the rank of Commissioner followed by an appointment as International Secretary for Business Administration.
In 2020, Merle was appointed as Territorial Commander of the Latin America North Territory in San Jose, Costa Rica, overseeing The Salvation Army’s ministries in 10 Latin American countries.
The Heatwoles have three adult children Michael, Michele and Melissa who live in the United States. Michael and his wife, Linnea, live in Carpentersville, Illinois, with the Heatwoles’ granddaughters, Elin and Audrey. Michele and her husband, Dan Penning, live in St. Petersburg, Florida, with the Heatwoles’ grandson, Carter. Melissa and her husband, Kenyon Sivels, are the corps officers in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, with the Heatwoles’ granddaughters, Trinity and Eden.