About THOMAS D. PHILLIPS

Tom Phillips grew up on a farm near Lincoln, Nebraska. After graduating from high school and attending the University of Nebraska, he began a long career in the armed forces. During the course of a 36-year military career, he rose from enlisted recruit to colonel, led an isolated American community through a terrorist episode, ran a “think tank” for the Commander-in-Chief Strategic Air Command, served as Director, Air Force Personnel Readiness Center during Operation Desert Storm, led one of the most unusual units in the Air Force and commanded some of the first American troops sent to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, following the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (twice) and a host of other awards. He is thought to be the only Air Force officer to have been top graduate from Air Force Officer Training School, Squadron Officer School, and Air Command and Staff College. While in the Air Force he earned degrees from Colorado State University and the University of Colorado. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Scholastic Honorary Society.  After completing his military service Phillips worked as an administrator at the University of Nebraska and as a free lance writer. Tom and his wife Nita, a Registered Nurse, currently reside in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he writes about military and American history, defense issues, and baseball.

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