Edward James Phillips, 87, of Jenks, OK, passed away June 6, 2026.

Edward was born in Tulsa, OK December 17, 1938 and attended schools in Tulsa, Houston, Texas, Sapulpa and Jenks, OK.

After graduating from High School, he met and married Pamela Phillips, served as a US Navy Combat Aircrewman (Radar and Electronic Countermeasures), aircrew instructor and avionics technician in the Far East and Pacific flying off of aircraft carriers. They had a son Charles Douglas, daughter Michelle Marie and enjoyed Southern California beaches and attractions. After military service he worked for Douglas Aircraft in avionics and engineering before joining the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They moved to several locations in Texas, then Denver, CO, Washington D.C., and Chicago, IL. They appreciated meeting new people, playing bridge, visiting area attractions, boating and flying in their plane locally as well as numerous cross-country trips.

Ed Phillips has worked in a variety of increasingly responsible aviation technical, engineering, supervisory, Division management and Senior Executive Service Regional Administrator jobs in the FAA Southwest, former Rocky Mountain and Great Lakes Regions, and FAA Headquarters in DC. He completed extensive engineering and technical training at the FAA Academy as well as FAA Management, and Executive Schools. He was also a Registered Professional Engineer and Commercial Pilot with Instrument Rating.

Ed served as Project team leader to manage seven FAA Headquarters working groups developing the FAA's first 20-year National Airspace System (NAS) Plan and NAS Architecture in 1981. The NAS Plan was developed in a six-month period, gained wide acceptance throughout the aviation industry and congress, and resulted in major new funding ($10 billion) for the FAA and DOT. The FAA NAS Plan is commonly compared to NASA's Apollo Plan in terms of technical complexity and magnitude.

Ed served as the FAA Administrator, Great Lakes Region from 1989 to 1994. The Great Lakes region encompasses eight states; Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. It includes over 7,000 FAA personnel providing service to the aviation industry and the flying public. It is one of the most complex FAA Regions in terms of major airports and FAA facilities, major air carrier and air freight operators, aircraft operations, numbers of pilots and political sensitivity. He conducted negotiations and coordination with federal and state legislators and officials and industry representatives. Edward received several performance awards including from the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Professional Women Controllers of the Great Lakes Region.

Ed retired as FAA Senior Executive Service (SES) Level V, which is equivalent to 0-7 Navy Rear Admiral and Air Force Brigadier General. The Senior Executive Service (SES) lead America's workforce. Members of the SES serve in the key positions just below the top Presidential appointees. SES members are the major link between the political appointees and the rest of the Federal workforce. They operate and oversee nearly every government activity in approximately 75 Federal agencies.

After retiring from the FAA, Ed provided executive, management, engineering and technical consulting services/support to international and domestic companies, federal/state/local agencies, officials, legislators and associations. He served on the Board of Directors and Director of External Relations for the Lake Texoma Association from 2003 to 2015.

They retired from FAA in Highland Village, TX near Dallas and their daughter (now deceased) and grandson. They enjoyed visits with their son Charles Douglas and Daughter-In-Law Cathy who lived near Seattle, WA, a condo/boat dock on Lake Texoma, and traveled in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Europe. Later they moved back to the Tulsa area at Jenks, OK where Ed enjoyed movies, TV shows, and Corvette Club activities. He also served as voluntary advisor to an HOA, other local organizations and groups, and as a certified Alzheimer's Association Family Care Group Facilitator.

He is survived by Son- Charles Douglas Phillips and wife Cathy of Littleton, CO, Grandson Alexander Phillip Baker, Grandson-Travis Hall, Grand Daughter Shelby Schulz and Great Grand Daughters- Emry and Avery Schulz, and Ellie and Indigo Baker. He was preceded in death by his Wife Pamela Phillips, Daughter Michelle Baker, Mother Caroline Fugate and Father Edward Douglas Phillips.

Edward will be greatly missed, but his spirit and memories will continue on with each of us.

Memorial Service will be 10AM, Saturday, June 27, 2026 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel, 9350 East 51st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma.