Everybody has their own leadership style, and that’s one of the things that you get to see in the Marine Corps; there are all types of officers.

—Charles Phillips

Education: Air Force Academy
Current Title: President, Oracle Corporation; Economic Advisor to the President

From serving as president of the student body to becoming president of the largest corporate software company in the world, Charles Phillips has always had purpose.

Phillips was building computers as a hobby during high school in the 1970s, before computers were a household staple. He was naturally drawn to the Marine Officers’ logistics and data processing program, where he gained experience in this emerging field.

His Marine Corps training gave him more than technological skills. As a captain, Phillips learned to organize, communicate and lead. He was trained to overcome obstacles and make quick decisions—skills that would later help him overcome the challenges of the business world.

Phillips has had an extremely successful career in business, and serves as a member of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, but he maintains that the most memorable moment of his life so far was earning his Marine Corps captain’s bars.