Lt. Col Phillip Lukens is currently serving as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G2 for 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne). He is a native of Hinesville, Georgia, and joined the Army in 2005 commissioning as a Military Intelligence Officer with a branch detail to Infantry after graduation from The Citadel. He has been selected to Command the JSOC Intelligence Brigade’s Exploitation Squadron in June 2024.
Lukens has served in a variety of assignments including the tactical, Interagency, and Joint SOF levels. He was first assigned to 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division where he served as an Assistant S-4, Rifle Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer. In 2008, LTC Lukens attended the MI Captains Career Course and was subsequently assigned to 25th Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division as the Brigade’s Deputy S2. Lukens was then assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division where he served as the MI Company Commander and subsequently as the Cavalry Squadron S-2. Lukens then served as the G-2 Plans Officer and Secretary General Staff for the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. After completion of Air Command and Staff College, he was assigned to the 297th MI Battalion, 513th MI Brigade where he served as a Battalion Executive Officer and Operations Officer. Lukens was then selected for a Broadening Opportunity serving as an Interagency Fellow with the FBI. Upon completion of the fellowship, he assessed and was selected to serve in the JSOC Intelligence Brigade in positions ranging from Troop Commander to Brigade J3.
His deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq, 2006 and 2009), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan 2011), and Operation Inherent Resolve (Iraq 2018).
Lukens is a graduate of Airborne School, Infantry Officers Basic Course, Ranger School, Military Intelligence Captains Career Course, and the Air Command and General Staff College.
Lukens’ military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (two oak leaf clusters), the Purple Heart Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (one oak leaf clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal (three oak leaf clusters), the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.