Soon to be retired from the United States Navy, Phillip C. Diaz of Fillmore.

Pictured is U.S. Navy Senior Chief Phillip C. Diaz with his family, Cynthia, Lily (3) and Hailee (5), Thanksgiving 2025 in Fillmore.

U.S. Navy Senior Chief (E-8) Information Branch (I-Branch) Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) Phillip C. Diaz, a 2004 Fillmore High School (FHS) Graduate will retire from the United States Navy on February 28, 2026. In addition to FHS Phillip attended Piru Elementary School and Fillmore Middle School.
Growing up in Fillmore Phillip participated in Fillmore T-Ball, Little League, Fillmore High School Baseball and Football. Phillip was a member of the Piru 4-H Club raising the 1995 Grand Champion Swine named Tomasina, his first year in 4-H! Phillip is the Son of Richard and Carolyn Diaz and Brother to Arron Diaz, Brooke (Diaz) Heinrich and Julia (Diaz) Fitzgibbons. Phillip is the father of two beautiful daughters Hailee and Lily, Uncle to eleven nieces and nephews and has many uncles, aunts and cousins living in the San Diego area.
Despite living in “Padre Country” Phillip remains a Lifelong Dodger Fan! On May 22, 2024, Phillip was selected and honored as the “Dodgers Military Hero of The Game” when the Dodgers hosted the Arizona Diamondbacks. After retirement Phillip and Cynthia, children Hailee (5) and Lily (3) will remain the San Diego area where they have made their home and have lived for the past six years.
Phillip entered the Navy on October 31, 2005, as an Information Technician (IT) and received his approximately 10-week Basic Training and “C” School on the shores of Lake Michigan at the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command Naval Station Great Lakes near Chicago, Illinois. During Phillip’s just over 20-years of service to his Country he has served on the USS McFaul (DD 74), USS Mt. Whitney (LCC 20) Communications Flagship ported in Gaeta, Italy, USS Russell (DDG 59) an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer and the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Phillip has also been stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, Gaeta, Italy and San Diego.
Phillip has been deployed eight times. His longest deployment was at Bagram Air Base in Parwan Province, Afghanistan where he served for 1-year. There he served as an EOD ESU 2. Bagram Air Base was a frequent target for drone and missile attacks. One of Phillip’s memorable moments at Bagram, and there were many, was when his Nephew Michael O’Neal, an Army “Forward Observer” located Phillip at Bagram Air Base for an unforgettable reunion!
Phillip also was an instructor for both “C” and “F” Schools. Phillip visited many countries during his military service. He twice visited his “Birth Country and City” Busan, South Korea. When Phillip was born in 1986 Busan was known as Pusan. Since 2000 Pusan has been referred to Busan. It wasn’t a name change but a standardization of how Korean sounds are written in English to better reflect the native pronunciation of the English ‘p’ to the Korean softer ‘b’. A mountain near the city is also named Busan.
Phillip’s Family, Coworkers and Friends will witness his ‘Retirement Ceremony’ on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. onboard the USS Midway Museum. The Midway (CV-41) is a floating Aircraft Carrier commissioned in 1945 and docked in San Diego Harbor. The Fillmore Community thanks Senior Chief Phillip C. Diaz for his service and sacrifice to his Country.