Cmdr. Philip Cox
COMMANDING OFFICER, USS LEWIS B. PULLER (ESB 3), BLUE CREW
16 June 2025
A native of the Midwestern United States, Commander Cox graduated from Wheaton College (IL) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Archaeology in 2004 and earned a Navy commission through Officer Candidate School in 2009. He holds Master of Arts degrees in Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
Most recently, Commander Cox served as Executive Officer on USS JOHN L. CANLEY (ESB-6). Additional Sea tours include USS ANZIO (CG-68) as the Auxiliaries and Ordnance Division Officers and USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG-81) as the Training Officer. He served as a Department Head aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (LCS-2) as the Combat Systems Officer and Operations Officer. Ashore, Commander Cox was assigned as the Training Liaison Officer and Lead Scheduler for COMLCSRON ONE and Maritime Warfare Instructor and Training Lead at Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC).
Commander Cox’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4), and various unit and service awards.