Lieutenant Colonel Heath Phillips grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico before enlisting into the Navy in 1998. He served as a Gas Turbines Systems Technician Electrical (GSE), attaining the rank of GSE3, before selection to the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training program in 2000. Lieutenant Colonel Phillips then received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from University of New Mexico and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May of 2005.
Upon completion of The Basic School, he earned the military occupational specialty 7220 Air Traffic Control (ATC) Officer. Subsequently, he reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 2 (MACS-2), Detachment B in New River, North Carolina. Lieutenant Phillips served as a Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team Leader and Detachment Commander. Additionally, he successfully graduated Weapons and Tactics Instructors Course 1-09 and deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). After promotion to Captain, he reported to Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 (MATSG-21) ATC Schoolhouse in Pensacola, Florida in September 2009 to serve as the Marine Liaison Officer.
Subsequently, Captain Phillips transferred to Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 (MTACS-38) in 2013 where he served in a variety of billets and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
Major Phillips reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 (MAWTS-1) for duties as the TACC Division Head in June of 2016. Following MAWTS-1. Major Phillips returned to MTACS-38 for duty as the Executive Officer. Promoting to Lieutenant Colonel in August of 2021, he assumed the role of Marine Air Control Group 38 (MACG-38) Operations Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Phillips transitioned to the forward staff of 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, MACG-18 in June of 2022.
Lieutenant Colonel Phillips personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with one Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is the graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School, Quantico, VA and Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB.