OCALA, FL (352today.com) – For those juggling careers, family, and community involvement, Daisy Diaz’s story hits home. A U.S. Navy veteran and now Marion County’s new Veterans Services Director, Diaz has built her life around service — first to her country, and now to the community she proudly calls home. Her journey from military leader to advocate for local veterans is one of grit, heart, and a deep-rooted desire to give back.

Diaz, a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, has officially stepped into the role of Marion County Veterans Services Director, succeeding longtime director Jeffrey Askew.

A native of New York, Diaz enlisted in the Navy in 1983 and served for 20 years before retiring in 2003. Her transition to civilian life unexpectedly led her to the world of veteran services — though not in the way she originally planned.

Diaz found herself working for then-State Rep. Dennis Baxley, in the same building as the county’s veterans services office.

“The funny thing was, I didn’t know anything about veteran services, I had just retired, and you’d think that I would know, but here I am working in this building that does it, and at that time Jeffrey Askew was the director,” Diaz recalled. “He would ask me every now and again, to translate to some of the Spanish-speaking veterans.”

What started as casual translation assistance soon turned into a calling.

“As I’m translating, I’m saying, ‘What in the world?’ Afterward, I talked to him, and I said, ‘What is it that you exactly do here?’ That’s how I got indoctrinated with veteran services,” said Diaz. “I found it fascinating. It was truly something that I wanted to do. I had just retired, I wanted to continue to give back to the community.”

Diaz’s third job after military retirement turned out to be the one that stuck — something she says holds true for many veterans finding new purpose after service.

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“They say that when you retire, and you work three jobs, the third one is going to be the one that’s going to be the last one,” Diaz said. “For me, the second one, working with Rep. Baxley, he was a representative then, it was amazing. The fact that veterans’ services was right there. The possibilities for me to continue were endless to give to the community — not only the community but the veterans community, also Marion County. Marion County is huge when it comes to veterans as far as the participation, the presentations that they have out here, the programs that they have out here. That was all appealing and I’m so glad that I stuck with it.”

Now, two decades later, Diaz steps into her leadership role with the support of a strong local network and the determination to make a difference.

“You have all of these organizations that make it possible for me to help these veterans that are in need, but to continue on and be a part of that,” said Diaz. “When they say they want to help veterans, they help veterans. It’s not just talk, they actually show it — from the commissioners to the staff, all being part of the process, making my life coming into this position that much easier. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve as the director for veteran services.”

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