Richard Phillips is an American sailor best known for his role as the captain of the MV Maersk Alabama, a cargo ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates in April 2009. During the hijacking, Phillips displayed remarkable leadership and bravery, ultimately offering himself as a hostage to protect his crew. The incident led to a dramatic rescue operation by the U.S. Navy, which culminated in Phillips being freed after several days in captivity. His experience was later depicted in the 2013 film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks, which brought further attention to the dangers faced by maritime workers.