In our time working with the U.S. Postal Service, we’ve collaborated with some amazing artists and art directors. But few were as prolific and creative as Phil Jordan, who is stepping down from his post after a distinguished career with USPS. In almost a quarter century as an art director, he oversaw the development of hundreds of postage stamps.

The list of stamps he designed is long and varied. Some of his recent stamps include: the 2011 Neon! Celebrate stamp, the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Stars stamps, and the 2013 Civil War: 1863 stamps. We’re especially fond of the uniquely beautiful 2012 Cherry Blossom Centennial stamps. They feature an illustration by Paul Rogers.

Over the years, he worked on several aviation-themed stamps, including the 1997 Classic American Aircraft stamps — for which he meticulously fact-checked the artwork, even counting the number of rivets depicted — and the 2003 First Flight stamp. It was a labor of love for Jordan, an avid glider pilot.

Jordan, who’s from New Bern, North Carolina, and lives in Falls Church, Virginia, has had a long, successful career as a designer. After working for Beveridge and Associates, Inc., for 18 years, he started his own design firm, where he worked with clients such as USAir, IBM, and NASA. A past president of the Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington, Jordan has had his work featured in Graphis and Communications Arts.

Phil’s dedication and eye for detail has helped make our mail more attractive and exciting. We wish him the best.