The Diaz family, Richard and Carolyn, with US Navy Chief Phillip Diaz, and his sisters Arron Diaz and Julia Fitzgibbons (Diaz).

United States Navy Chief, Phillip Diaz, was promoted to Chief Petty Officer (ITC E-7) on September 16, 2015 during an official Navy Pinning Ceremony in San Diego, California. In attendance were his proud parents, Richard and Carolyn Diaz, Sisters Arron Diaz and Julia Fitzgibbons (Diaz), Uncle Michael Diaz and Aunt Karen Diaz. Richard and Carolyn had the honor of pinning on Chief Diaz's Navy Chief Anchors to his uniform shirt lapels.

Chief Diaz, 29 years old, is a 2004 Fillmore High School Graduate. All of Chief Diaz's education was within the Fillmore Unified School District attending K-5 at Piru Elementary School, 6-8 at Fillmore Middle School having been part of the first 6th Grade Class to enter the Middle School. He went on to attend FHS where he played baseball and and football, graduating in 2004! Chief Diaz was also active in the Bardsdale United Methodist Church, and local 4H Clubs where he had the honor, at age 9, of having his pig "Tomasina" being selected as the Grand Champion at the Ventura County Fair.

Chief Diaz began his career in the Navy on October 31, 2005 attending his basic training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois where he graduated in the top ten percent of his class receiving a meritorious promotion to Seaman Apprentice E-2. Chief Diaz's job specialty is Information Technology. In addition to his current instructor assignment at the Center For Information Dominance, Point Loma, San Diego, Chief Diaz was previously assigned to the U.S.S. McFaul (DDG 74), an Arleigh Burke class of guided missile Destroyer in Norfolk, Virginia. And, at the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit-2 (EODESU-2), in Little Creek, Virginia. Chief Diaz has been on three deployments; two to the Persian Gulf aboard the U.S.S. McFaul and in Afghanistan with the EODESU2, prior to his assignment in San Diego as an instructor.

On August 24, 2008, while assigned on the U.S.S. McFaul, the McFaul was to first United States Vessel to arrived in Batumi, Georgia, as part of Operation Assured Delivery to "deliver humanitarian relief supplies, as part of the larger United States response to the government of Georgia request for humanitarian assistance" in the wake of the 2008 South Ossetia war. The McFaul offloaded nearly 155,000 pounds of supplies—including hygiene items, baby food and care supplies, bottled water, and milk.

Chief Diaz has received numerous awards during his Naval service. According to Chief Diaz, "I am ready to be a Navy Chief! I look forward to guiding the sailors under my command to some day being successful as future Navy Chiefs!" Chief Diaz will remain at his current assignment for the next 1 1/2 years, but after that he will serve "At the convenience of the Navy!" Chief Diaz hopes to spend more time in San Diego, but is excited to serve where the Navy needs him.

The citizens of the Santa Clara Valley are proud of Chief Diaz's service, congratulate him on his promotion. We thank Chief Diaz for his service and sacrifice to maintain the freedoms all of us enjoy as American citizens. Chief Diaz is truly an American Hero!