CyberSmart 2025: From A to Z

Commanding General, NETCOM

The NETCOM Commanding General (CG) is accountable for the operation and defense of the network, network modernization, operationalizing the Cyber Mission Forces, and the welfare of all NETCOM Soldiers, civilians, and family members. The CG’s mission command philosophy extends to the commanders and directors to all of our subordinate units.

MG McPhail was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. She commissioned into the Army in 1992 from Georgia Southern University, where she graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Production and Operations Management. She also holds master’s degrees in Telecommunication Management from Webster University and in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. She is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS.

MG McPhail most recently served as the Director of Network Command, Control, Communications and Computer (C4) Services and Integration Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 from August 2022 to June 2024. She also served as the J6 U.S. INDOPACOM. Earlier she served as Executive Officer to the Army’s Chief Information Officer (CIO/G-6).

Her previous command and staff assignments include Executive Officer to the Army’s Chief Information Officer (CIO/G-6), Commander of the Defense Information Systems Agency Europe Field Command at Headquarters, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, from July 2014 to July 2016. Branch Chief in the Joint Staff J6 at the Pentagon; Commander, 307th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Chief of Operations and Plans, G6, III Corps, Fort Hood, TX; S3 Operations Officer, 3rd Signal Brigade, Fort Hood; S3 Operations Officer, 57th Signal Battalion, 3rd Signal Brigade, Fort Hood; Brigade Signal Officer and Observer/Controller-Trainer, 5th Training Support Brigade, 78th Infantry Division, Fort Meade, MD; and multiple positions in the 4th Infantry Division and 3rd Signal Brigade at Fort Hood. She began her Army career with the 6th Signal Battalion, Fort Richardson, AK, and was later the Battalion Signal Officer in the 106th Military Intelligence Battalion.

MG McPhail’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC)), Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 OLCs), the Army Commendation Medal (with 2 OLCs), the Army Achievement Medal (with 1 OLC), the Meritorious Unit Citation (with 1 OLC), the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (with 5 Tours).

MG McPhail has two sons, Justin and Cade.