[429] MTSU Alumnus Phillips Speaks at May 4 Commissioning Ceremony

For release:  May 2, 2012

News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu

Military Science contact: Lt. Col. T.K. Kast, 615-898-2470 or Tharrel.Kast@mtsu.edu

MTSU alumnus Phillips speaks at May 4 commissioning ceremony

MURFREESBORO — Alumnus and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William N. “Bill” Phillips will serve as guest speaker for the spring 2012 MTSU Department of Military Science ROTC commissioning ceremony.

The event will be held Friday, May 4, starting at 10 a.m. at the MTSU Veterans Memorial on the south side of the Tom H. Jackson Building. The public is invited.

Eleven senior cadets will be commissioned on the eve of their graduating from MTSU on Saturday, May 5. Six of the cadets will be commissioned active duty, one commissioned to the Army Reserves and four commissioned to the National Guard.

The cadets include Jeremie M. Blattler of Enville, Tenn.; Sonia F. Dixon, Melvin D. Taylor Jr. and Joshua G. Wilcox of Clarksville, Tenn.; Kimberly A. Isham of Evansville, Ind.; Colton C. Parr of Spring Hill and Fairview, Tenn.; Brandon E. Pearson of Manchester, Tenn.; Johnathon C. Schleicher and Jason P. Stisser of Murfreesboro; Bradley C. Weber of Columbia and Lynnville, Tenn.; and Spencer R. Williamson of Murphy, N.C.

Phillips (’76) became the principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army in Acquisition Logistics and Technology, and director in Acquisition Career Management on Feb. 1, 2010.

A native of Bell Buckle, Tenn., Phillips, previously was commanding general, Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan in Baghdad, Iraq, from February 2009 to January 2010. 

Before that assignment, Phillips served as commanding general at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J, where he was program executive officer of ammunition and commander of Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command from May 2007 to January 2009. He also served as deputy program executive officer in aviation at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.

His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3 oak leaf clusters), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Army Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and Army Staff Identification Badge.  In 2001, he was named the Army’s Acquisition Commander of the Year.

Phillips and his wife, the former Marilyn Hopkins of Shelbyville, Tenn., live in the Washington, D.C., area.

This will mark the final commissioning ceremony for Lt. Col. Tharrel “T.K.” Kast. He will be retiring from the Army later this summer.

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Media welcomed.

Note: A high-resolution jpeg photo of Lt. Gen. Bill Phillips is attached.

            The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"!

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