Biography
Francis Rella grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
His first book, Manhattan Medics, (Princeton Book Publishers, 2003) received outstanding reviews and he earned national awards for his Screenplay and television scripts. He was a freelance writer and staff writer for Cygnus Publications. His second book Lullaby of Broadway is released by Tate Publishing.
Francis Rella is a military chaplain, Catholic Priest, teacher, nurse practitioner, and award-winning writer earning Master degrees in Nursing, Music, and Theology. He is a board certified Psychiatric and Adult Health Nurse Practitioner. A former paramedic, radio show host, singer, and stage actor, his military career began during the Cold War with the United States Marine Corps as a Field Radio Operator. He then served as a Communication Specialist with the 11th Special Forces, US Army Reserve and a Hospital Corpsman with US Navy Reserve during the first Gulf War, stateside on a Helicopter Frigate. Post-9/11 he served with the US Air Force on deployment as a Critical Care nurse in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as an Instructor at Officer Training School and prior to selection in the Chaplain Corps, he was as a Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) Nurse with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and currently serves with New Jersey Air National Guard holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a member of Actor's Equity Association, American Guild of Musical Artists, and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists he worked as an actor for PBS, National Public Radio, New York City Opera and stage companies in New York City and throughout the United States. He is a proud member of the Authors Guild.