Top Character Strengths

LOVE OF LEARNING - PERSEVERANCE - LOVE

Michael Joseph Phipps, born on July 7th, 1967, was the eldest of 5 children. He grew up in Steubenville, OH. The aspiring Doctor joined the U.S. Navy to help pay for his college and medical school at the Ohio State University. He looked forward to serving his country. When LT Michael J. Phipps, M.D., was selected for Flight Surgery training he was very excited to learn how to fly, ultimately becoming a Flight Surgeon in MCAS Cherry Point, NC. LT Phipps worked alongside U.S. Marines in an EA-6B Prowler squadron (VMAQ-1). The Marines and 'Doc’ quickly became family when a training mishap in Yuma, AZ resulted in the death of four squadron mates.

In May 1997, LT Michael J. Phipps, M.D. married Andrea Granger in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The young couple moved to Maryland, where Dr. Phipps began his 4-year Orthopaedic Surgery residency at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. LCDR Phipps continued his specialty training with a year long Spinal Reconstructive fellowship at the Twin Cities Spine Center in Minnesota. LCDR Phipps returned to Bethesda in July 2001, serving a deployment aboard the USNS Comfort.

LCDR Michael J. Phipps’ final resting place is in Arlington National Cemetery - Section 66, Grave 1764.

Michael was a proud and loving father to his two daughters; Kara Lyn and Meghan Kay, both graduates of High Point University in NC. The family is grateful to serve with TMF since 2015 alongside fellow Gold Star families on TMF expeditions, Operation Legacies, Honor Projects and CDMs in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Character Strength Stories:

Love of Learning & Perseverance - Michael pushed himself academically, finishing OSU medical school, then starting a 4-year orthopedic surgery residency at NNMC- Bethesda, MD followed by a year long Spine Reconstructive fellowship at the Twin Cities Spine Center in MN. He was a motivated, hardworking doctor who believed in doing what is right for the patient at all costs.

Love - Michael showed love and compassion to all he met. But he especially loved the two little girls who would wait for their Daddy to come home from a long day at work. Kara and Meghan were the ‘apple of his eye’.

-Submitted by Andrea, Surviving Wife