Harold A. Phillips was born in Forsyth and attended Hubbard Elementary and Hubbard High schools from 1959 until 1970. In 1970, he began his senior year in the first all-integrated class at Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, graduating in 1971. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February 1972. During his 27-year Air Force career, he was stationed, from 1972 - 1991, at Castle AFB, California; Misawa AB, Japan; Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; Moody AFB; Lowry AFB, Colorado; and Bitburg AB, Germany, as a logistics apprentice, technician, supervisor, and superintendent. From 1991 - 1999, he was stationed at the USAF Senior NCO Academy and the USAF College for Enlisted Professional Military Education in Montgomery, Alabama, as a leadership and management instructor and course curriculum developer. The highlight of Phillips’ military career came in January 1997 when he was promoted to the highest enlisted Air Force rank of chief master sergeant, a position reserved for the top 1 percent of all enlisted personnel. He continued to serve at the Air Force’s college in Alabama until his retirement in July 1999. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak-leaf clusters, the Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal with eight oak-leaf clusters, the Outstanding Unit Ribbon with three oak-leaf clusters, and the National Defense Service Medal.
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