4 minute read
Revatalizing Communities
When Disaster Strikes Alumnus Works to Revitalize Texas Communities
By Rachel Forrester
When disaster strikes a family or community, many groups pitch in to help those in the state of emergency. After the immediate disaster response, however, many still face challenges stemming from less obvious, long-term side effects. Stepping up at this state of recovery, Pete Phillips (BS 92) has found fulfilling success in working to repair post-disaster communities in the Lone Star State.
As the deputy director for Community Development and Revitalization for the Texas General Land Office, Pete works under Commissioner George P. Bush and is responsible for managing the development of policies and guidelines for $3.8 billion in federal grants appropriated in response to presidentially-declared disasters throughout the state.
Pete joins DSW Homes partners on demolition day for a DSW Homes, Texas City, Galveston County Blue Jay housing project that was three years in the making.
The program has built more than 10,000 homes, coordinated the cleanup of the Texas coast after hurricanes Dolly and Ike, and administrated long-term recovery efforts for these hurricanes as well as for the 2011 wildfires. They recently completed the restoration of an $85 million wastewater treatment plant in Galveston after a broken valve allowed over 100,000 gallons of partially treated sewage to leak into Galveston Bay.
Day to day, Pete meets with a full spectrum of constituents involved in the restoration projects including U.S. senators and congressmen, state representatives, elected officials, housing boards, the media, concerned citizens and more. He feels grateful to have the ability to help people, and to make a difference in the lives of those who were negatively impacted by events beyond their control.
Pete speaks about the traffic congestion issues plaguing the local community.
“It’s so rewarding when you get the keys after a finished project and can help a community,” Pete explained. “When you get invited to a ribbon cutting or to a homeowner’s new home that the grant has provided for them, it is the most rewarding thing. To see the folks who have been made whole after an event.”
Pete attended Eastern on a speech and debate scholarship, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He was an active member of the college community and he attributes much of his success to the skills he learned on campus and in his fraternity.
A 1991 Silver Pack yearbook photo of Pete Phillips.
“I use a lot of things that were provided to me as a student at Eastern every day,” Pete said. “Being on speech and debate really helped me. I do a lot of public speaking and I truly leverage that time. I was also the President of ΣΑΕ for two terms and worked as a resident assistant at Eddy Hall.”
“I tell friends to encourage their kids to live in the residence halls and to work as a resident assistant. It offered me the ability to lead people and to understand people’s needs—their pains, their wants. You’re there with them and you hear their complaints and stressors. I learned a lot of leadership skills in the fraternity and in residence life.”
—Pete Phillips
After attending Eastern, Pete served 16 years in the Marine Corps as a naval aviator and worked in the Department of Defense for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for 12 years. On top of his work for the Texas General Land Office, he continues to serve as the director of Emerging Threats and Analysis in the Texas National Guard and is a commissioner for the City of Austin’s Commission on Veterans Affairs.
