Commencement Speaker:
The Honorable Phillip Jones
Mayor, City of Newport News
Phillip D. Jones is the 27th mayor of Newport News. When he was sworn in January 10, 2023, he became the city's youngest-elected mayor at the age of 33.
For the past decade, he has served in leadership roles in the public and private sectors.
As a Marine Corps infantry officer, he led his Marines to support peacekeeping and security cooperation missions on multiple continents. As a management consultant with a leading global firm, he advised Fortune 500 companies, municipalities, and nonprofits on strategy, marketing, organization, and operations across all industries.
In the wake of 9/11, Mayor Jones accepted a nomination to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated with merit with a Bachelor of Science degree in history. He earned an MBA and a master’s in public policy from Harvard University.
At Harvard Kennedy School, he was a Tillman Scholar and co-president of the Veterans Club. He graduated from Hampton Christian Academy in 2008.