Dr. Kirk "Captain" Phillips

Dr. Kirk “Captain” Phillips is the author of A Breath Away From Eternity, which was officially entered for consideration in the 2027 Pulitzer Prize competition in the Memoir category.

Phillips is a retired 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran, Pentagon 9/11 survivor, Afghanistan veteran, author, and educator. He was inside the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and five years later volunteered to serve in Afghanistan—experiences that became the foundation of A Breath Away From Eternity: The Long Road Home.

His writing explores survival, service, family, faith, leadership, and what happens after extraordinary events become part of ordinary life. Beyond his military service, Phillips has held leadership roles across government, industry, technology, and higher education. He earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation from Marymount University, where his research examined the adoption of artificial intelligence in higher education.