Kirk A. Phillips is the Director, Air Force Office of Energy Assurance (AF OEA). AF OEA serves as the integrator of energy and water resilience efforts by ensuring projects align with installation needs and with the three goals of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Installation Energy Strategic Plan — identify enabling system vulnerabilities, improve resilience planning, and ensure resilience results. As such, AF OEA connects DAF enterprise and installation stakeholders with energy and water resilience partners, emerging technologies, and industry best practices.
Prior to his current position, Kirk was the Health Safety and Environmental Practice Leader and Vice President at LJB Inc. and worked as a thought leader with the American Industrial Hygiene Association on Total Exposure Health. As the Practice Leader of HS&E, Kirk provided comprehensive health, safety and environmental services to all segments of industry across the US and Internationally. In 2018, he retired as a Colonel from the Air Force after serving as the Biomedical Science Corps Associate Chief for Bioenvironmental Engineering in the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General. In this capacity, he oversaw development and execution of Air Force occupational and environmental health policies and development of the career field’s 362 officers and 960 enlisted members. In 2014, Phillips developed the Total Exposure Health as a strategic initiative to institutionalize primary prevention in work, environmental and lifestyle exposures. Prior to his current assignment, Phillips was the Director of Policy and Programs for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, Pentagon, Washington DC.
Mr. Phillips entered the Air Force from a four-year AF ROTC scholarship in 1985. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and his master’s degree in engineering and environmental management, where he was a distinguished graduate. Mr. Phillips has held a broad range of leadership positions throughout the Air Force. Initially serving as Chief and Flight Commander at three operational bases for a combined period of 11 years, he also completed a 12-month fellowship at the Air Force Medical Operations Agency (AFMOA). Mr. Phillips served as a staff officer at a major command and Air Staff in the AF Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, the AF Surgeon General, and the Air Force Medical Support Agency offices. He deployed to Qatar in support of operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. He served a tour at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, where he oversaw the occupational health program for 93 ANG bases and 242 units. Mr. Phillips led his career field as Deputy in the Bioenvironmental Engineering Division at AFMOA and he was the Commander, 47th Medical Support Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri, Rolla, Mo.
1993 Master of Science in Engineering & Environmental Mgmt, AF Institute of Tech., Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
1996 Squadron Officer’s School (in residence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2000 Fellow, Occupational & Environmental Health, AF Medical Operations Agency, Washington D.C.. Md.
2002 Air Command and Staff College (by seminar), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Air War College (by correspondence), 1 Feb
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 2001–2003, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Environment, Safety and Health Policy Officer for Ranges and Airspace, Arlington, Va.
2. 2003–2006, Chief Operations Officer, Environmental, Safety & Occupational Health for National Response, HQ Air National Guard, Andrews AFB, Md.
3. 2006–2009, Deputy Chief, Environmental & Occupational Health, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Arlington, Va.
4. 2009–2011, Director, Air Force Regional Medical Operations, Laughlin AFB, Texas
5. 2011–2013, Director of Plans & Programs Safety & Occupational Health, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Installation, Environment and Energy, Arlington, Va.
6. 2014–2017, Chief Executive Office Environmental and Occupational Health for Operations, Air Force Surgeon General’s Office, Falls Church, Va.
7. 1989 – March 2018, Bioenvironmental Engineer, United States Air Force, Washington D.C., Md.
8. January 2018–March 2021, Vice President, Managing Principal, HSE Practice Leader, LJB, Inc., Washington D.C., Md.
9. March 2021–Present, Director, Air Force Office of Energy Assurance, United States Air Force, Washington D.C., Md.
(Current as of AUG 2023)