Kevin Phillips, a partner at Brentwood-based health care communications firm Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock, has been named media center director for the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.

As part of the convention’s Media Operations Department, Phillips will oversee a staff of 40 volunteers in their responsibilities for convention news media operational and logistical issues such as media credentials for 15,000 reporters and crew, media workspace, camera positions, broadcast booths, stand-up positions, bloggers and radio row. This is his fifth convention.

Phillips has long been active in GOP circles. He began in Washington, D.C., as a communications/press aide in national politics and spent more than 10 years working with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander – as his personal aide at the U.S. Department of Education, as spokesman for his national grassroots political organization, as deputy press secretary for his presidential bid and as communications director and deputy campaign manager for his successful Senate race.

Phillips’ father, Bill Phillips (former Nashville deputy mayor under Bill Purcell) served as manager for the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans.

Phillips received his B.A. in English from James Madison University and his MBA from Auburn University.