National Leadership

Col. Matthew T. Phillips

Chief, Civil Air Patrol Legal Officer Corps

Col. Matthew T. Phillips is the chief of the Civil Air Patrol Legal Officer Corps, a group of more than 300 lawyers across the country who support the work of Civil Air Patrol.

As chief of the Legal Officer Corps, he helps provide legal guidance, organizational counsel, and leadership support for CAP’s missions, governance, and national operations.

Phillips previously served as deputy chief of the Legal Officer Corps and as the Mid-Atlantic Region legal officer, providing counsel to four wing commanders, two region commanders, and two national commanders.

Since joining Civil Air Patrol in 2010, Phillips has focused his CAP service on opportunities that leverage his legal training, teaching experience, and aviation background.

He has completed CAP’s National Legal Officer College and served as its director in 2019.

In addition to graduate degrees from Duke University and Wake Forest University, Phillips completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College programs through the U.S. Air Force Air University.

Phillips is also an instrument-rated pilot and primarily flies CAP’s G1000-equipped Cessna 182 aircraft.

As an aircrew member, he has participated in multiple search-and-rescue and disaster relief missions and has trained mission scanners and mission observers.

In addition to his legal officer assignments, Phillips has served as commander of North Carolina Wing’s Group 4 and as chief of staff of the North Carolina Wing.

His background combines legal expertise, operational aviation experience, leadership development, and organizational governance in support of Civil Air Patrol’s national mission.