Our twenty-third recipient, Major Phillip D. Jones graduated from Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School in 2021 with an MBA and MPP.  Phillip served as an infantry officer during his time in the Marine Corps.  As a platoon commander, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan, as part of the Unit Deployment Program and conducted peacekeeping operations in Mongolia and the Philippines.  Phillip was recognized as a finalist for the Tarawa Award – most exceptional Platoon Commander in the Second Marine Division.  After returning, he was designated as the Company Executive Officer for the Security Force Company and deployed to Italy and North Africa in support of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa.  After these deployments, Phillip was selected by a Commanding General to serve as an instructor at The Basic School and guide the professional development of the officer corps as a Staff Platoon Commander.  He graduated with merit from the United States Naval Academy in 2012 with a BS in History as a Burke Scholar, where he served as Brigade Sergeant Major.  Phillip is currently the 27th Mayor of Newport News, VA, serving as the city’s youngest-elected mayor, and is married to Dr. Jamila Wynter.