Philip A. Armstrong, STS PJ: Bronze Stars and Gummy Bears - Ep. 112

Philip Andrew Armstrong is a decorated combat veteran, elite-level medic, program manager, and resilience-driven father of four. Raised in the woods by hippies and unable to read until the age of 14, his early life was unconventional, marked by hardship, self-reliance, and grit. Those experiences became the bedrock for a path of resilience that carried him through combat, service on some of the world’s most elite special operations teams, and ultimately, earning a master’s degree from Harvard, proving that where you begin doesn’t define how far you can go.

Philip began his military journey as a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor and the Purple Heart for his actions under fire in Afghanistan. He earned additional valor recognition while serving as a civilian contractor with various agencies, deploying five more times to Afghanistan and once to Libya in support of counter-terrorism operations.

In 2018, Philip sustained a leg injury from an AK-47 ricochet during an overseas deployment. He officially retired from contracting in 2019 to focus on recovery, his family, and building a purpose-driven life beyond the battlefield.

Today, Philip serves as a medical and operational program manager, co-owner of a real estate brokerage in Florida, and co-founder of Ambassadors of World Wildlife, a nonprofit delivering medical and conservation support in remote, high-risk environments.

He holds a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University Global and a Master of Liberal Arts in Sustainability from Harvard Extension School. He is a board-certified Critical Care Flight Paramedic and has completed some of the most grueling and advanced tactical training in U.S. Special Operations. He’s also a triathlete and a licensed private pilot and paraglider pilot.

Philip lives in Florida with his wife—a former F-15 Strike Eagle backseater with two combat deployments—and their four young children. Together, they are embarking on the journey of homeschooling, with a focus on cultivating resilience, leadership, and adaptability in their family. Through social media, Philip shares raw, honest reflections on post-traumatic growth, high-performance living, mental health, and the challenges and triumphs of modern fatherhood.

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Follow Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operator.drama.llama/

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