Colonel James M. Phillips is the Commander, 919th Special Operations Wing, Eglin Air Force Base Field 3 (Duke Field), Fla. He is responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining the wing’s special operations forces, ensuring unit readiness for worldwide deployments in support of combatant commands. The 919th SOW, in a classic association with the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center, provides operations and maintenance personnel to support aviation advisor programs for the Air For Special Operations Command through the use of the C-145A aircraft. The wing conducts U-28, AC-130U, C-146 and C-145A formal training unit flight instruction through a classic association with the AFSOAWC. It also employs the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft in a geographically separated classic association with the 27th SOW, Cannon AFB, N.M.
Colonel Phillips is a 1988 graduate of North Carolina State University where he earned his commission through the Air Force ROTC program. His assignments include flying duties as a C-130 instructor navigator and an MC-130E navigator, instructor navigator and evaluator navigator. He separated from active duty in 1999 and entered the Air Force Reserve in the 711th SOS flying the MC-130E Combat Talon I. Colonel Phillips has participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.
1994 Squadron Officers School, by correspondence
2001 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2009 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1988 - March 1990, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather Air Force Base, Calif.
2. March 1990 - August 1993, C-130E/H Instructor Navigator, 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan
3. August 1993 - July 1995, MC-130E Instructor Navigator, 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
4. July 1995 - June 1999, MC-130E Evaluator Navigator, Active Duty Advisor, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Duke Field, Fla.
5. June 1999 - March 2001, MC-130E Evaluator Navigator, 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla.
6. March 2001 - October 2003, MC-130E Evaluator Navigator, 919th Operations Group, Duke Field, Fla.
7. October 2003 - April 2004, Standardization/Evaluation Special Operations Navigator, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. April 2004 - June 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla.
9. June 2009 - June 2012, Deputy Commander, 919th Operations Group, Duke Field, Fla.
10. June 2012 - October 2013, Commander, 919th Operations Group, Duke Field, Fla.
11. October 2013 - Present, Commander, 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: 5,000+
Aircraft flown: MC-130E, C-130E, C-130H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star with Valor Device
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leave clusters
Air Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leave cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal with gold star
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Service Medal with M device
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 28, 1988
First Lieutenant July 28, 1990
Captain July 28, 1992
Major Oct. 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 18, 2005
Colonel June 11, 2012
(Current as of April 2016)