Brig. Gen. (Ret’d.) Anthony W J Phillips-Spencer

Brig. Gen. (Ret’d.) Anthony W J Phillips-Spencer, PhD

During more than 44 years of public service, Brigadier General (Ret’d.) Anthony W J Phillips-
Spencer, PhD served from 2016 to 2024 as Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the United
States and Mexico, as Summits of the Americas National Coordinator; as Permanent
Representative to the OAS, where he chaired the Permanent Council, the Committee on
Hemispheric Security and the Haiti Working Group; Vice Chief of Defence Staff (2013 – 2016);
Director, Strategic Services Agency (2024 – 2025); Defence Attaché to US and Canada (2004 –
2010); and in Haiti with UNMIH and UNSMIH (1996).
General Philips-Spencer graduated from the US Army Infantry School (1999), and Canadian
Forces College (2010) and Combat Training Centre (1982). He received senior executive
professional education at the Inter-American Institute for Social Development (INDES), the
National Defense Universities (NDU) of China and the United States, the Inter-American
Defense College (IADC), the George C Marshall European Center (GCMC); the William J.
Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies; and, Harvard University’s, Kennedy School of
Government. He received the United States Legion of Merit in 2009, and Brazilian Order of
Naval Merit in 2023.
Former Ambassador Phillips-Spencer holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Economics, a
Post-Graduate Diploma and Master of Science Degree (MSc) in International Relations, all from
the University of the West Indies, and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD) degrees in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University.
His civil-military national leadership appointments included as Director, Civilian Conservation
Corps, and Chair of the National Ebola Response Team. He pioneered the Tourism Security
Programme of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) and contributed to the
establishment of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), and Meeting of Ministers
Responsible for Public Security in the Americas (MISPA).
He currently applies his extensive expertise, and experience to advance the public interest,
including as the Executive Director of Coherence Global, a Member of the Board of Directors of
the Inter-American Dialogue and a Fellow of the Caribbean Policy Consortium. He is fluent in
English, and proficient in French and Spanish.
Anthony Phillips-Spencer lives by faith, is married to Joanne, and they are the parents of three
adult sons.