Phil Smith

Phillip A. Smith is the LAX Chief Pilot for Delta Air Lines and Captain on the Airbus 319/320/321 fleet. He is a 2001 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and went on the fly the F-15E, F-16, T-38, and T-6B for the United States Air Force. Phil has over 6,000 total flight hours with 288 combat hours flying missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. He was selected to be the Air Force’s second ever F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team pilot demonstrating the combat capabilities of the F-15E at 69 airshows around the world. In 2010 he received his Master’s of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Aeronautical Science. Phil went on to serve in roles as F-15E instructor pilot and mission commander, F-16 aggressor pilot, and Aide de Camp to the Commanding General of the Iraq Training and Advising Mission – Air Force where he was awarded the Bronze Star. Phil has spent countless hours volunteering as an ambassador in aviation/STEAM programs with Delta Air Lines, the Civil Air Patrol, and the US Space and Rocket Center.