Garland has extensive experience in the chemicals industry within the company itself and with one of Chevron Phillips Chemical’s shareholders. Before his election to President and CEO, Garland served Chevron Phillips Chemical as senior vice president, planning & specialty chemicals. His prior experience also includes serving as general manager of Qatar/Middle East for Phillips Petroleum Company (now ConocoPhillips), a position he was named to in 1997. From 1995 to 1997, he served as general manager of natural gas liquids after serving as manager of planning and development in planning and technology. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Garland was manager of the K-Resin® business unit.

Garland began his career with Phillips in 1980 as a project engineer for the Plastics Technical Center.  Between 1982 and 1986, Garland worked as a sales engineer for Phillips' plastics resins and from 1986 to 1988 was a business service manager for advanced materials. From 1988 to 1989, he was business development director in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  In 1989, he became olefins manager for chemicals.

Garland received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1980. He is a member of the Chemical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board for Texas A&M University.