Brigadier General (Retired) David D. Phillips is from Cleveland, Ohio. He was commissioned in 1980 as a Military Police Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army. Over the past three decades, BG (Ret) Phillips served in a myriad of leadership positions, both overseas and throughout the United States. He commanded at every level within the Military Police Corps Regiment, including twice in combat. Most recently he served as the Chief of Military Police.
After attending the United States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, BG (Ret) Phillips served as the Director of Security for the Army Staff at the Pentagon. He was serving in this position during the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack. He was personally decorated for valor during the rescue operations by then Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld.
In 2002, BG (Ret) Phillips returned to Fort Hood, Texas, and assumed Command of the 89th Military Police Brigade. In 2003 he deployed the 3500 Soldiers of the brigade in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in Iraq, his brigade provided military police combat support across the theater and training of the new Iraqi Police Service. In addition, his brigade set up and operated the Iraq National Police Academy producing over 6000 new police officers in 6 months. Simultaneously, BG (Ret) Phillips was responsible for the custody and control for the high value detainees of the former regime, including the former dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein.
BG (Ret) Phillips was responsible for the safety and security of the 3,800 members of the Mujahedin e-Khalq (MeK) at Camp Ashraf. BG (Ret) Phillips spent over a year working towards a resolution of the situation at Camp Ashraf and buffered the external forces pressing for draconian measures. He built a close working relationship with many of the senior members of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran, Madame Mojgan Parsai and the current Secretary General Zohreh Akhyani. He was the direct link between the coalition leadership, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, Nongovernmental Agencies and the residents of Camp Ashraf.
Following brigade command, BG (Ret) Phillips assumed duties as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
In April 2006, BG (Ret) Phillips was selected for promotion to Brigadier General and assumed duties as the Deputy Provost Marshal General of the Army. It was while serving in this position that he was selected by General David Petraeus to deploy back to Iraq as the senior Military Policeman in theater with responsibility for the rapid expansion of the Iraqi Police during the ‘SURGE.’ Also, his responsibilities included providing subject matter expertise to the senior leadership of the Multi-National Forces-Iraq in regards to the situation at Camp Ashraf. He also advised the Iraqi Minister of Interior in regards to the Rule of Law, internal security and police expansion.
Following redeployment from Iraq, BG (Ret) Phillips was selected as the Commandant of the Military Police School and Chief of Military Police. He served in this dual role until last month when he retired after over 31 years on active duty.
BG Phillips has a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College and a Master of Arts in Administration of Justice from Webster University. BG Phillips has received numerous awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with three stars and Combat Action Badge.
Brigadier General (Ret) Phillips and his wife, Dawn, have three children who are all serving their country.