Could Tom Phillips have become a good task-group commander?

Was Tom Phillips a good administrator rather than a good task-group commander?

His planning work and willingness to reconsider his views suggest that he had the potential to command a task group well.

Phillips's work as Director of Plans provides a basis for judging his potential beyond administration. His disagreements with Henderson included naval aviation and destroyers. In this assessment, Henderson eventually persuaded him to change his thinking. That willingness to listen and reconsider suggests a capable officer, although it cannot establish how he would have developed in command.