An expert on national and international security and fluent in both Arabic and Spanish, Philippe is interested in Middle Eastern, Latin American and US politics. Educated at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, and at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Philippe is a Texan. He has worked in municipal government in Houston and for a leading think tank in Washington D.C. His insights into national and global policy making have been sharpened by working at the White House where he is a member of the Advance Team.