Philip Fant

Phillip Fant, Class of 1989, was an all-conference performer in baseball, track, football, basketball, and power lifting during his four year tenure at Goshen High School. But it was on the football field for which Phil was most remembered. In his senior season, Phil was selected as a “That’s My Boy Award - Cincinnati” Finalist and was selected to play in the Cincinnati All-Star Game.

Upon graduating from Goshen High School, Phil attended the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York and played football for Army while at West Point. He graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and was commissioned into the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant.

Phil’s first assignment was as a Field Artillery Officer at the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as a Fire Support Officer, Battery Fire Direction Officer, and Battalion Fire Direction Officer. As the Battalion Fire Direction Officer, Phil received an Army Commendation Medal for writing an Electronic Communications SOP Manual used by the entire 101st Airborne Division, Division Artillery.

After being promoted to Captain, Phil attended the US Army Field Artillery Advanced Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Upon graduation, Phil remained at Fort Sill as a Gunnery Instructor and taught gunnery (an application of physics). As a gunnery Instructor, he was responsible for course development, training, mentoring and the professional development of newly commissioned field artillery officers in the delivery of cannon artillery. Phil trained over 600 Field Artillery Officers during his assignment at Fort Sill.

In 1999, Phil decided to leave the Army and pursue a career as a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After completing his training at the FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia, Phil was assigned to investigate White Collar Crimes in Albany, New York. After 9/11, Phil was reassigned and to conduct Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Intelligence investigations.

In 2004, Phil was selected to be the Applicant Coordinator / Recruiter for the Albany FBI Office. During this time, Phil was selected to be a member of the FBI’s National Recruitment team. In this capacity, Phil traveled around the country participating at various career events as an FBI Recruiter.

In 2005, Phil was promoted to Major in the U.S. Army Reserves and called back to active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Phil took a leave of absence from the FBI to serve in the Army, once again. After serving for 8 months as an instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Fort Benning, Georgia, Phil received a medical discharge and was allowed to return to the FBI.

In 2006, Phil returned to the FBI and became the Intelligence Liaison Officer for the Albany Division. In this capacity, Phil was responsible for establishing a close and collaborative working relationship with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure relevant information is shared with appropriate law enforcement partners.

Phil also served as the Training Coordinator for the FBI Albany office and currently is a member of the FBI Albany Safe Streets/Gang Task Force. Phil was recently promoted to a Supervisory Special Agent and will be an instructor at the FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia.

Phil has been an active member of his community in the Albany, New York area. He has coached Pop Warner Football for twelve years and has been a lacrosse coach at the club level for four years. Phil is currently an Assistant Lacrosse Coach for the Shaker High School Varsity Boys Lacrosse team in Latham, New York.

Phil has been married for 19 years to the former Armae Sayles of Marietta, Georgia. They have three children: son Joshua, who is 18; daughter Jocelyn, who is 14; and son Jonathon who is 12. In June, Phil and his family will relocate to Northern Virginia where Phil will begin his new assignment at the FBI Academy.