Rear Admiral Philip Davidson is the Senior Military Advisor to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the State Department.
A surface warfare officer, Davidson has deployed across the globe in frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers. Most recently, he commanded Carrier Strike Group 8 and led the Eisenhower Strike Group on its 2010 combat deployment to the North Arabian Sea in support of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. His earlier service includes command of USS Taylor (FFG 50) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64), where he earned Battle Efficiency E awards in each.
Ashore, Davidson has served in operations, planning and policy billets on multiple tours with the U.S. Pacific Fleet staff, the Navy staff and the Joint Staff, and as the Navy’s military aide to the vice president of the United States. He was the deputy director for Strategy and Policy on the Joint Staff/J-5 in his first flag officer assignment.
Davidson is from St. Louis, Missouri. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval War College and a 1982 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He has a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Physics.
His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” and other personal, unit and campaign awards.
