Phil Norris

Phil Norris, a candidate for the 4th Congressional District of Alabama, has held a variety of positions in a diverse career that began with his entrance into the US Navy’s Nuclear Power Training Program in 1979. This training catapulted Phil into an exciting and unique career in the US Navy Nuclear Submarine Program, where he served as a Reactor Plant Supervisor and Diving Officer on 5 different submarines during the Cold War. He also served as a Technical Recruiter for Navy Engineering Programs for almost four years, where he received a Navy Achievement Medal from the Chief of Naval Operations for his success in this program.

Following Phil’s retirement from the Navy, he began his civilian career with Life Cycle Engineering in Charleston, SC, where he was a Technical Writer that assisted in the development of a complex computer system for US Navy Propulsion Systems. Next came a stint with Oak Ridge Research Institute, where Phil worked as a Senior Health Physics Technologist responsible for the characterization, storage, and transport of special nuclear material at the Department of Energy’s Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Facility.

In 1996, Phil joined the staff of UniTech Services Group, Inc. (formerly Interstate Nuclear Services), a Nuclear Services Company in Columbia, SC. There he served as the Health Physics Manager for a large industrial complex. He later transferred to their Macon, GA facility where he was promoted to Assistant Plant Manager, and eventually, Plant Manager. In this role, he supervised a production staff of 80 employees. In 2001, his facility was selected as the Plant of the Year and in 2002, his facility was selected as the Best Health Physics Program in the UniTech Services Corporation.

In 2004, Phil decided to make a career change in the Financial Services industry and he joined the Macon, GA office of Smith Barney as a Financial Advisor. In late 2006, Phil was offered a management position with the firm and transferred to the Hattiesburg, MS Branch where he served as a Vice President and Operations Manager, supervising an office staff of 15 advisors and assistants, and presiding over almost 500 million dollars in invested assets.

Following the creation of the joint venture between Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley in 2009, Phil’s position was eliminated due to the restructuring of Smith Barney. He then accepted a position as a Chief Executive Officer with Keller Williams New Beginnings Realty in Jackson, MS. There, he served as Team Leader for a 56 agent staff of Realtors.

In January 2010, Phil became an independent Financial Services Representative, associating with Allstate Financial Services in the Birmingham area. He served various Allstate offices in the Birmingham area as an Exclusive Financial Specialist.

Feeling the call to return to his roots in the nuclear industry, Phil accepted a position with Denuke Nuclear Contracting in July of 2010, where he served as a Senior Health Physics Technologist at Los Alamos National Labs in Los Alamos, NM. Phil worked in this capacity to remediate nuclear and chemical waste associated with the original Manhattan Project that successfully developed the world’s first nuclear weapon.

Phil continues to work as an independent nuclear contractor, involved in nuclear projects all across the country. Recently, he has worked refueling outages at Kewaunee Nuclear Station in Kewaunee, WI, and Surry Nuclear Station in southeast Virginia. Most recently, Phil worked as a Senior Health Physics Technologist and Radiological Engineer with Cabrera Services, Inc. at the Shallow Land Disposal Area (SLDA) near Pittsburgh, PA. At SLDA, a nuclear and chemical waste site, Phil directed radiation safety operations in the trench areas and developed several complex technical procedures. One of his technical papers was published at the International Waste Management Symposium 2012 in Phoenix, AZ.

Phil’s community service resume is as diverse and colorful as his professional resume. During his Navy Career, Phil led a team of volunteers to develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with local schools and charitable organizations in the Charleston, SC area. His school partnerships were recognized on the national level for being model programs. Phil has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Macon Georgia Community Tennis Association, where he spearheaded the production of a promotional DVD that highlighted the association’s contribution to the quality of life of Macon, GA residents. He has served as the President of the Macon Toastmasters Club and as a fundraiser for the Macon Volunteer Clinic. In 2006, Phil served as a volunteer football coach for the Central Fellowship Christian Academy in Macon, GA, and has served in various coaching roles throughout his entire adult life.

After moving to Mississippi in early 2007, Phil was appointed to serve as the Public Affairs Director (volunteer position) for the Mississippi Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary of the US Air Force. In this role, Phil received National Awards in each year of his service and received an overall “Best Public Affairs Officer” Award at the 2008 National Public Affairs Officer Academy. This award was presented by the Civil Air Patrol National Commander and CNN’s Aerospace Correspondent, Miles O’Brien. He has also published articles in the Civil Air Patrol National Magazine “Volunteer,” and contributed to an article in the “Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine.” During the Gulf Oil Spill response in 2010, Phil represented the Civil Air Patrol as their national Public Information Officer and spokesperson; coordinating several high-level media events, including a feature story on the CBS Evening News. Phil currently serves as the Director of Public Affairs for the Civil Air Patrol in the Southeast Region of the United States.

Politically, Phil ran for Alabama's 7th Congressional District in 2012 and has served as a Delegate to the Georgia State Republican convention throughout the 2000 and 2004 election cycles. He supported several campaigns during his tenure as State Delegate. He has also supported several Congressional and Senatorial campaigns. The highlight of his tenure as a Georgia State delegate was his invitation to a private event with President George W. Bush in the weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Phil ran for the Board of Education in Bibb County Georgia on two occasions.

Phil has completed his MBA studies from California Coast University (with honors), holds a BS Degree in Business Administration from California Coast University (with honors), and an ASBA degree from Limestone College. He also has held various licenses in the Financial Services industry.

Phil attends the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL, and has served as a member of the Worship Team in Churches all across the southeastern U.S. He has served on several short-term mission trips during his lifetime, including trips to the Slovak Republic and Caracas, Venezuela.

On a personal level, Phil recently published a book about his submarine career during the Cold War, entitled “Family Gram; Memoirs of an American Cold War Submariner.” His book provides a look at the personal side of the submarine community and the triumphs, challenges, failures, and achievements of a small-town boy from North Alabama. Phil has two adult sons, Scott and Brett Norris, who both live in the Atlanta area.