My name is Chris Philbrick and I was a candidate to be Rockland's city manager and would like the opportunity to speak to some of the more spurious allegations that were leveled against me during the city's hiring process. But first, I would like to congratulate Mr. Tom Luttrell on his selection to be the city manager. He is an exceptional professional whose leadership will contribute to the community's growth. I sincerely wish him all the best as he begins this journey.

As a Maine native, I was eagerly looking to return to my home state. After having served our great nation for 30 years, I wanted to return to my roots and was excited by the opportunity to come back from "away."

It was regrettable that some people felt I was trying to mislead the community with my resume, which was never my intent. I have ardently endeavored to uphold the Army's seven values throughout my career, and always felt that "honor" was the most important value.

I converted my military job titles into civilian equivalents; not to mislead but rather to illuminate. Many people don't understand the difference between an Army company, battalion, or garrison – or understand what it means to be a commander. Therefore, I did what the Department of Veterans Affairs recommends: "describe your military experience, skills, or position in civilian terms." It is unfortunate that some people interpreted this as an attempt to deceive, that was the exact opposite of my intention.

There are many relevant similarities between serving as a garrison commander in the Army and a city manager, which I fully explained to the search committee during my interview. I also recognize that there are many relevant dissimilarities, which I also pointed out during the interview.

One thing that is very important to acknowledge is that neither garrison commanders nor city managers accomplish anything by themselves. Both positions require a team player who can work collaboratively with others and leverage their expertise to achieve a common goal.

I learned these skills very early during my time in the military and have always tried to be an inclusive and collaborative leader. Anyone who has spent time with me knows that I am not a dictatorial, "do it my way" leader. I have a wide array of experience that allows me to adapt my leadership style to the particulars of any given situation, and I have always benefited from the combined experience of a diverse community. Any attempt to claim that my military background prevents me from working well in a municipal setting is a gross distortion of my background, knowledge and experience.

I regret that I was not given the opportunity to join the Rockland community. I was excited by the prospect of returning to my home state and being able to serve the citizens of this great city. I am saddened that a few people would try to malign my integrity and hard-earned reputation for selfless service, honor, and respect. I would like to thank the search committee for giving me the opportunity to make my case for why I should have been selected to serve the citizens of Rockland. I wish Tom the very best as he continues his service to the city in this new role.

Chris Philbrick lives in Dumfries, Virginia