Phil has a degree in History from Harvard and has done Masters work at the Naval War College and Long Island University. After graduation from Harvard Phil went directly into the Navy and became a Naval Aviator. During three tours in Vietnam Phil served with distinction and was awarded, among other decorations, the Air Medal for Gallantry, the Purple Heart and the Navy Commendation Medal. After his wartime service he rose to the rank of Captain in the Naval Reserves. As a business executive he worked for two Fortune 500 firms holding senior positions in sales and marketing. He was also a COO and CEO for several technology firms specializing in the sales and marketing of high-end software products. In 1999 Phil was selected for the Executive in Residence Program at Long Island University and for the next six years taught both undergraduate and graduate business courses at LIU, Southampton. In 2007 Phil accepted an assignment to teach Marketing and Advertising Design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence.

Phil is a columnist for the Southampton Press, a magazine feature writer, has published two fictional novels, is working on two major non-fiction books and serves on the Board and as President of the Long Island Authors Group. He is a licensed Coast Guard Captain and lives in Southampton, NY with his partner Laura and son Pierce.