Phillips earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French language and literature from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration from the Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary.

[1] From 1983 to 2001, Phillips served as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy.

In 2008 and 2009, she was a senior fellow at the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group.

From 2018 to 2022, Phillips served as a special assistant to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for coastal adaptation and protection.

[5] President Biden resent Phillips' nomination the following day, and on February 2, 2022, the committee favorably reported it to the entire Senate floor.