Senior Fellow

Mr. William Phillips

Member Since 2026

Biography

Bill Phillips has extensive experience in government operations, concentrated in financial management, human capital management, supply chain management and strategic planning. Most recently he was a member of the Defense Business Board, offering business process advice to the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and their leadership teams. Specific studies addressed reforms in departmental financial operations, acquisition, logistics and public policy. During his sixteen years on the board, Bill also served in leadership roles in the private sector. He retired from KPMG where he led the Firm’s Federal Advisory Practice, which served virtually every major Federal Agency with business operations services. Before joining KPMG, Bill was IBM’s Vice President of Global Defense Services, working with many NATO and U.S. allies providing operations improvements designed to facilitate effective business resource management and technology applications in support of military missions. His initial role at IBM was the partner and leader of the U.S. Defense Services Practice, a role he held at PricewaterhouseCoopers prior to IBM’s acquisition of PwC Consulting. While a partner at PwC, Bill held various leadership roles including responsibility for services provided to the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Mint, National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The principle focus of services he provided included business process reengineering, total quality management implementation, strategic planning and financial management reform. Before the merger of Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand, Bill was a partner focused principally on financial management and business operations related services across the Federal Government. He began his career as a consultant with Deloitte Haskins and Sells implementing financial systems at the U.S. Navy and NASA. Bill has co-authored two books on government financial management: Public Dollars, Common Sense and Public Dollars Transformation. For his service on the Defense Business Board he received the DoD Exceptional Public Service Medal.

History of Employment

Position Division Organization Start End
Board Member US DoD Defense Business Board 2002 2018
Managing Partner Federal Advisory KPMG 2011 2015
Vice President Global Defense Services Leader IBM 2002 2010
Partner Federal Defense Leader PwC 1998 2002
Partner Federal Industry Coopers & Lybrand 1985 1998
Senior Consultant Federal Industry Team Deloitte Haskins & Sells 1978 1985

Expertise

Primary Sector

Federal

Primary Functions

Budgeting and Finance Change Management Organizational Structure/Design/Development Performance Measurement Procurement and Acquisition Strategic Planning Working Capital Funds
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