Senior Tennessee National Guard Chaplain Mark Phillips Retires after 22 Years of Service

SMYRNA, Tenn. – After more than two decades of service to the nation and the state of Tennessee, Col. Mark Phillips retired as the state’s senior chaplain during a ceremony at Smyrna’s Volunteer Training Site, April 28. He served more than 22 years as a chaplain in the Tennessee National Guard.

Since 2008, Phillips also served as the full-time Support Chaplain for the Tennessee Military Department, providing spiritual, religious, and emotional care to more than 12,000 Soldiers, Airmen, and employees across the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard, Tennessee State Guard, and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

“Mark is a key part of our team and has devoted his professional and military career to caring for our fellow Guardsmen and anyone in need,” said Brig. Gen. Steven Turner, the Assistant Adjutant General-Army. “He is an irreplaceable member of our military family who counseled, provided grief support, and crisis intervention to everyone. He served as a compassionate, confidential presence during challenging times, and we will be a lesser organization without him.”  

During the ceremony, Phillips was recognized for his distinguished service and lasting impact on the Tennessee National Guard community.

“It is incredibly humbling to have had the opportunity to serve alongside such proud and selfless Tennesseans,” Phillips said. “Serving these men and women has been one of the greatest honors of my life and will always stay with me.”

A native of Cookeville and a 1982 graduate of Cookeville High School, Phillips began his professional career attending Tennessee Technological University while working at Fleetguard in its testing laboratory. While teaching Sunday School and leading youth groups, he felt called to ministry and, in 1992, entered pastoral service in the Upper Cumberland region. After earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in ministry, he later earned a Doctor of Ministry in Christian counseling and continued serving in pastoral roles throughout the region until 2005.

He served his congregation and community for more than a decade. Following the terrorist attacks on the United States and the ensuing Global War on Terrorism, Phillips was drawn to serve his country.

“Being a servicemember is something I’ve always felt strongly about while growing up,” Phillips said. “But after 9/11, it became something I had to do. I met with many veterans and decided that the best way for me to serve my country was as a chaplain for my fellow Soldiers.”

Determined to serve, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 2004 as a chaplain candidate and soon earned a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the Tennessee Army National Guard, serving in an aviation unit within the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He became a fully qualified chaplain in 2006, and was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Cookeville.

“While in the Tennessee National Guard, I was able to continue pastoring as well as serve Soldiers, which was a fulfilling experience,” said Phillips.  

In 2008, Phillips was selected as the full-time Support Chaplain for the Tennessee Military Department, where he provided spiritual care and counseling across the state while continuing to serve at the unit level.

In 2009, he deployed to Iraq with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, where he spent a year traveling throughout the country providing care for more than 600 Soldiers in his unit and others in need. He conducted religious services, provided grief counseling, and supported troops in combat environments.

After returning from deployment, Phillips served as the regimental chaplain for the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment from 2011 to 2019, providing care to more than 3,000 Soldiers while continuing his full-time duties at the state level.

“Those years were incredibly busy,” Phillips said. “Soldiers were deploying around the world, and there was a great need for support.”

Over more than 18 years as the full-time Support Chaplain, Phillips counseled thousands of service members and their families and helped develop programs to strengthen resilience, readiness, and overall well-being across the force.

Throughout his career, he continued his education to better serve others. He earned a Master of Divinity in church administration from Liberty University and a Doctor of Philosophy in leadership studies from the University of the Cumberlands. His doctoral dissertation examined resilience training effectiveness among Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers.

Phillips also graduated from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, earning a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies. His thesis explored ethical considerations surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in diagnosing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder among combat veterans.

Reflecting on his career, Phillips expressed gratitude for those he served alongside and the support of his family.

“Serving as a chaplain has been a dream come true and led to an incredibly fulfilling career,” he said. “I could not have served without the tremendous support of my family through the many years and challenges.”

Phillips and his wife, Regina, have been married for more than 36 years and are proud parents of two daughters and four grandchildren. They reside in Woodbury. Beyond his military service, he serves as full-time faculty and associate professor at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where he inspires the next generation of leaders in the Graduate School of Leadership Studies.

Author: Lt. Col. Darrin Haas
Last Updated: April 29, 2026
Category: Retirement