Admiral Philip Dur was born to a diplomat and spent most of his early years abroad. He was educated in the US, earning a BA and MA in international studies from Notre Dame and a PhD in political economy and government from Harvard.

Dur spent thirty years as a career Naval Officer including multiple commands at sea and senior strategic planning positions ashore including assignments in the departments of the Navy and Defense as well as the National Security Council in the first Reagan administration.

During his naval career, Dur was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal (oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit (two gold stars), the Meritorious Service Medal (two gold stars), the Navy Commendation and Navy Achievement medals, and the Navy-Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon—and was made a member of the French Ordre National du Merite in the grade of Commandeur.

His time in the Navy was followed by a ten year Corporate career culminating in his assignment as a Corporate Vice President of Northrop Grumman Corporation and President of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems.  In addition, he served as a Director of two publicly traded Corporations and as a Consultant to the Defense industry