Rob Christensen, Raleigh News and Observer

As far as I can recall, Phillip Gilfus is the first Democratic National Committee member to address me as "sir."

That may reflect that Gilfus is young enough to be my son. But it also may have something to do with Gilfus' being a former Army captain and Iraq war veteran.

Gilfus, 27, recently pulled a major upset in winning one of North Carolina's five at-large seats on the Democratic National Committee. The DNC is the party's ruling body, setting its positions, coordinating campaign activity and setting the primary and caucus schedule.

Normally, the coveted seats on the DNC go to party veterans as a reward for working decades in the trenches.

Not in this case.

Earlier this summer, at the state Democratic convention in New Bern, Gilfus successfully challenged Muriel Offerman, a veteran DNC member. The treasurer of the Cumberland County Young Democrats defeated a former state revenue secretary and deputy director of the Employment Security Commission.

"Obviously, the message from the Obama campaign is change and a new kind of politics," Gilfus said. "I wanted to send a message that change is not just words. ... If you are going to say something, you need to back it up."

Gilfus, a Fayetteville native and a law student at Campbell University, said he will bring a fresh voice and new blood to the party. And he thinks his military background gives him a little different slant on things.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Gilfus delayed his law school plans and joined the Army. He spent much of his four and a half years stationed in California, where he helped run what was essentially a big Army repair shop.

With little chance that he would ever be sent to Iraq, Gilfus volunteered for a special assignment -- as sort of a troubleshooter in Iraq. It was a dream job. He traveled around Iraq, figuring out what was working and not working.

"It was kind of a fun job," Gilfus said. "As much fun as you can have in a combat zone.''

Gilfus didn't see combat, unless you count the mortar fire that was periodically lobbed into his base in Mosul.

Asked how the Iraq war is going, Gilfus hedges. He notes that he hasn't been in Iraq since 2005, although he keeps in touch with a lot of veterans.

"From what I hear, it's a mixed bag," said Gilfus. "Pockets of Iraq are humming along. Other sections, not so much. I think the government of Iraq has to do things on its own. You can only help them so much.

"We have to leave in a responsible manner. That means playing hardball with the Iraq government."

Because there is no strong national identity in Iraq, Gilfus said, he likes Sen. Joe Biden's plan: A weak central government and three strong regional governments composed of Shiites, and Sunnis and Kurds.

Gilfus has long been a Democrat, interning with two Democratic state senators in the legislature when he was younger. An Episcopalian, Gilfus said his religious beliefs influenced his political choices.

"That is why I am a Democrat," Gilfus said. "The Gospel does teach us about caring for our fellow man."

Gilfus will attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver later this month as a pledged delegate for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

A day after the convention, Gilfus will attend his first DNC meeting. He will probably call all the Democratic veterans "sir" or "ma'am."