United States Air Force Veteran and Syracuse University Employee Phil Benedict is from Pompey New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in spring of 1977 as an Aircraft Aerospace Technician. During his active-duty service, Phil was stationed in Royal Air Force (RAF) Upper Heyford, England and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, followed by continued service in the Air Force Reserves, Air National Guard, and the Navy Reserves.
During his military career, Phil was a member of the U.S. Air Force Heyford Boxing team, winning the United Kingdom Boxing Championships, the European Interservice Boxing Championships and the Silver Medal in the German American Games.
As a boxer, Phil also qualified for the 1980 Olympics in the Light Heavyweight Division. However, he never made it to the competition, as this was the same year the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics Games.
After his military service, Phil went on to become the Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff and began working at Syracuse University as a machinist.
Phil is currently a Syracuse University student veteran studying to earn a master’s degree in Teaching & Curriculum from the School of Education. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor teaching Women Self Defense and is the Head Coach and Trainer for the Syracuse University Boxing Team. As the head coach for the University’s Boxing Team, Phil brought the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association National Boxing Championships to Syracuse University in 2019. Phil also coached the first women’s team to complete in a national boxing event in 2019 and, in 2015, he coached the first heavy weight champion belt since 1946.
Phil is an expert marital artist studying since he was 12 years old, an ordained minister and a law enforcement instructor. In his spare time Phill is an avid hunter who enjoys hunting alligator and wild boar in the great State of Florida.
Today, Phil works for Syracuse University Facilities Services as a Building supervisor overseeing some of the most notable buildings on campus to include National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel & Gayle D’Aniello Building. Phil is an active member of the Syracuse University Veterans Affinity Group.