Phil Keith has a degree in History from Harvard and has done Masters work at the Naval War College and Long Island University. After graduation from Harvard Phil went directly into the Navy and became a Naval Aviator. During three combat deployments to Vietnam Phil served with distinction and was awarded, among other decorations, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal. After his wartime service he rose to the rank of Commander in the Naval Reserve and was also designated as a licensed Captain by the US Coast Guard. As a business executive he worked for two Fortune 500 firms holding several senior positions in sales and marketing. He was also a COO and CEO for four start-up technology firms specializing in the sales and marketing of high-end software products.
In 1999 Phil was selected for the Executive in Residence Program at Long Island University's Business Division and for the next six years taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in business at LIU, Southampton. In 2007 Phil accepted an assignment to teach business topics and writing classes at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence. RI.
In addition, Phil is a columnist for the Press Newspaper Group and won 2013 and 2015 New York Press Association First Place and Second Place awards for "Best Opinion Column." He also writes for magazines, and has published two other fictional novels, "Animus" and its sequel, "Belladonna." He also teaches (with best-selling author Tom Clavin) a writing and publishing seminar for both novice and aspiring authors.
Phil is the past President of the Long Island Authors Group; a member of the Town of Southampton Planning Board; belongs to VFW Post 5350, American Legion Post 924, the DAV, Vietnam Veterans of America; and, lives in Southampton, New York, with his partner Laura and son Pierce.