Phillip L. Queen started his career in the fire service in 1968 with Alameda County Fire Patrol. He became an instructor in 1975 when he received his lifetime fire service related teaching credential. He has taught firefighters, Chief Officers, and Company Officers as a consultant and college instructor throughout the country and has written several articles in trade journals on firefighting, command, and management. He is an author of two textbooks called Fighting Fires in the Wildland/ Urban Interface and The Visual Dictionary of Firefighting Tools and Resources, as well as an interactive CD called I-Zone Basics. Queen obtained a bachelor's degree of vocational education and a fire officer certification in the state of California. Phillip has worked in Orange County, Lake Tahoe, Butte County, Fairview Fire Protection District. He retired from the City of Hayward Fire Department in 2003. Queen also speaks at events and conferences on firefighter survival, fire command, and management training.

Phillip has a military background as a medic, infantry soldier, armor crew member, and military police officer. He has been nominated for the Soldiers Medal by United States Army.