Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin W. Phillips III is a native of Woodstock, Illinois. In 2005, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College and moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as a congressional staffer. In August 2006, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Officer Candidate Course.
After completing The Basic Officer Course and Infantry Officer Course in June 2007, Second Lieutenant Phillips was assigned to Company E, Second Battalion, Eighth Marines, Second Marine Division and deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Upon his return from Iraq, Second Lieutenant Phillips was assigned to Weapons Company, Second Battalion, Eighth Marines as the 81mm Platoon Commander. In May 2009, he deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Upon completion of these deployments, First Lieutenant Phillips was assigned to the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia where he served as an infantry project officer in the Field Testing Branch from March 2010 to June 2012. From June 2012 to June 2013, Captain Phillips served as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.
In December 2013, Captain Phillips graduated the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Captain’s Career Course and reported to Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division. He commanded Headquarters and Service Company from January to December 2014, deploying to Okinawa, Japan as a member of Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. He then commanded Company K, deploying to Okinawa, Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program from October 2015 to March 2016. Upon returning from deployment, Major Phillips assumed the duties of Operations Officer for the battalion, deploying to Okinawa, Japan as a member of Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from May to November 2017. Major Phillips completed his assignment aboard Camp Pendleton when he was assigned as Assistant Operations Officer, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division.
In March 2018, Major Phillips was assigned to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency as a Service Chiefs Fellow.
In July 2018, Major Phillips reported as a student to the U.S. Naval War College, College of Naval Command and Staff.
In September 2019, Major Phillips was assigned to Marine Corps Forces Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida as an operational planner. During his tour, Major Phillips deployed multiple times to Fifth Fleet Headquarters and U.S. Central Command Forward in support of deliberate and contingency planning efforts.
In June 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Phillips was assigned as the Operations Officer, Third Marine Littoral Regiment, Third Marine Division. In June 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Phillips assumed the duties and responsibilities as the Inspector and Instructor, Second Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, Fourth Marine Division.
Lieutenant Colonel Phillips graduated from Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School-Distance Education Program, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1-Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, U.S. Army Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, U.S. Navy College of Naval Command and Staff, and the U.S. Navy Maritime Advanced Warfighting School.