Cmdr. Matthew D. W. Phillips
Commanding Officer, USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41)
18 May 2021
A native of Christiansburg, VA, Commander Phillips graduated with honors from the United States Naval Academy in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. After selection to the Immediate Graduate Education Program, he graduated with honors from the Naval Postgraduate School with a Master of Science in Computer Science. Most recently, he earned his MBA with honors from Imperial College London Business School and was named the school’s Dean’s Excellence Award recipient.
His first assignment at sea was as the Communications Officer in CLEVELAND (LPD 7), completing a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After finishing the nuclear training pipeline, he served as the Reactor Mechanical Division Officer in DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69), completing a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Selected as a distinguished graduate from Department Head School, Commander Phillips served as the Operations Officer in NICHOLAS (FFG 47), where he coordinated a counter-narcotic deployment that interdicted over $500 million of cocaine traffic. He then served as the Chemistry and Radiological Assistant and the Main Propulsion Assistant in GEORGE H. W. BUSH (CVN 77), completing a deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Most recently at sea, he served as the Executive Officer in WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD 41).
Ashore, Commander Phillips returned to the U.S. Naval Academy as a Company Officer and taught courses in Leadership as well as Seamanship and Navigation. Following his department head tours, he served as a Junior Board Member on the Pacific Fleet’s Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. He was then selected for the White House Fellowship and served as a Special Assistant to the Vice President and Second Lady. Most recently ashore, he served as a Military Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the Assistant Director for Officer Force Management.
His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with two Gold Stars), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with one Gold Star) as well as multiple unit, campaign, and service awards.