LT. Philip Freeman
U.S. Navy Special Operations
EOD Mobile Unit 10 - Deep Sea Diver
Coronado, CA, Panama City, FL, Virginia Beach, VA
1987-1995
U.S. Navy Special Operations
EOD Mobile Unit 10 - Deep Sea Diver
Coronado, CA, Panama City, FL, Virginia Beach, VA
1987-1995
Philip Freeman was born in July 1965 in Monroe, Virginia, the youngest of five children. The family lived on a 300+ acre farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. His father, a Korean War Air Force veteran, instilled a sense of patriotism in the family. There is a lineage of military service, including his grandfather, a U.S. Marine Colonel and his brother, a U.S. Navy Commander.
Growing up on a farm in a small town, Philip and his siblings commuted 30 minutes to attend Holy Cross School, a small Catholic school with 300 students in grades 1 through 12. Despite having only 26 students in his graduating class, the boy’s high school soccer team was state champions. Inspired by his older brother Mike, a career Naval officer and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Philip aspired to follow in his footsteps. He enrolled in Virginia Tech's Navy ROTC program, and became part of the Corps of Cadets. He graduated in 1987 with a degree in Communications and was commissioned as an Ensign.
Philip attended Surface Warfare Officer School in Coronado, CA. Over the next nine months he learned all the disciplines necessary to drive a ship. Phillip then headed to Basic Deep Sea Diving Officer and Rescue Salvage training in Panama City, FL. Phillip was trained on various diving systems including SCUBA and surface diving. A major emphasis of diver training was to help divers remain calm under pressure. After completing his training Philip received orders to the USS Recovery, a rescue salvage ship stationed at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach, VA. During his time on the Recovery, he gained expertise in ship operations, diving, and salvage missions. He also shared a stateroom with Medal of Honor recipient Mike Thornton, a US Navy SEAL.
After four years Phillip left active duty and transitioned to the naval reserves, where he specialized in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), at U.S. Army Base, Fort Story, VA. He led a detachment at EOD Mobile Unit 10, participating in activities including explosive ordnance and dive training. After five years in the reserves, he ended his military service.
Philip later joined Dillard Paper Company in a sales capacity, working alongside his father and brother. Over 23 years, he worked closely with his customers and honed his problem-solving skills, which eventually led to his entrepreneurial venture.
Phillip recalled always wanting to create something new. “I would have ideas. Ideas just flowed. I’d write ideas down and stick them in a folder or a book. I reached the point where I had to do something with one of them. I was looking for something where I could solve a problem because those are usually the best things to create.”
Phillip enjoyed the outdoors, but his wife Pam was a target for mosquito’s. Pam was not keen on using chemical-repellent products, so Phillip used his problem solving skills and he developed a natural solution. That solution led to the founding of Murphy’s Naturals in 2014. Today the company has developed of a family of natural mosquito repellent products. Murphy’s Naturals products have become widely distributed and are expanding to many national retailers. Reflecting on his military experience, Philip appreciates the small-group camaraderie and cross-training often required by his teams. He incorporated these traits into Murphy’s Naturals.
The irony of a landlocked farm boy serving in the Navy isn’t lost on Philip, and he remains proud of his service, cherishing the opportunity to serve alongside exceptional individuals. “I loved my time in the Navy.” Philip, we thank you for your sacrifice and service to your country. We are also glad you were able to scratch your entrepreneurial itch, so your wife doesn’t have to scratch her mosquito bites.
Growing up on a farm in a small town, Philip and his siblings commuted 30 minutes to attend Holy Cross School, a small Catholic school with 300 students in grades 1 through 12. Despite having only 26 students in his graduating class, the boy’s high school soccer team was state champions. Inspired by his older brother Mike, a career Naval officer and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Philip aspired to follow in his footsteps. He enrolled in Virginia Tech's Navy ROTC program, and became part of the Corps of Cadets. He graduated in 1987 with a degree in Communications and was commissioned as an Ensign.
Philip attended Surface Warfare Officer School in Coronado, CA. Over the next nine months he learned all the disciplines necessary to drive a ship. Phillip then headed to Basic Deep Sea Diving Officer and Rescue Salvage training in Panama City, FL. Phillip was trained on various diving systems including SCUBA and surface diving. A major emphasis of diver training was to help divers remain calm under pressure. After completing his training Philip received orders to the USS Recovery, a rescue salvage ship stationed at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach, VA. During his time on the Recovery, he gained expertise in ship operations, diving, and salvage missions. He also shared a stateroom with Medal of Honor recipient Mike Thornton, a US Navy SEAL.
After four years Phillip left active duty and transitioned to the naval reserves, where he specialized in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), at U.S. Army Base, Fort Story, VA. He led a detachment at EOD Mobile Unit 10, participating in activities including explosive ordnance and dive training. After five years in the reserves, he ended his military service.
Philip later joined Dillard Paper Company in a sales capacity, working alongside his father and brother. Over 23 years, he worked closely with his customers and honed his problem-solving skills, which eventually led to his entrepreneurial venture.
Phillip recalled always wanting to create something new. “I would have ideas. Ideas just flowed. I’d write ideas down and stick them in a folder or a book. I reached the point where I had to do something with one of them. I was looking for something where I could solve a problem because those are usually the best things to create.”
Phillip enjoyed the outdoors, but his wife Pam was a target for mosquito’s. Pam was not keen on using chemical-repellent products, so Phillip used his problem solving skills and he developed a natural solution. That solution led to the founding of Murphy’s Naturals in 2014. Today the company has developed of a family of natural mosquito repellent products. Murphy’s Naturals products have become widely distributed and are expanding to many national retailers. Reflecting on his military experience, Philip appreciates the small-group camaraderie and cross-training often required by his teams. He incorporated these traits into Murphy’s Naturals.
The irony of a landlocked farm boy serving in the Navy isn’t lost on Philip, and he remains proud of his service, cherishing the opportunity to serve alongside exceptional individuals. “I loved my time in the Navy.” Philip, we thank you for your sacrifice and service to your country. We are also glad you were able to scratch your entrepreneurial itch, so your wife doesn’t have to scratch her mosquito bites.