Charley Diaz Named Customer Affairs Director for HII Small Surface Combatant, Coast Guard Programs

Charley Diaz, former CEO of maritime consulting firm Diaz and chief of staff at the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, has joined Huntington Ingalls Industries as corporate director of customer affairs for the company’s small surface combatants and U.S. Coast Guard programs.

The more than 30-year Coast Guard veteran previously supervised an interdisciplinary staff in charge of the service branch’s Pacific cutter fleet that includes National Security Cutters built by HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, the company said Thursday.

“As a retired captain and four-time cutter commanding officer, Charley understands the needs of our Coast Guard customer and has demonstrated throughout his career the leadership capability and skills needed to help HII grow and strengthen our customer affairs programs,” said Daniel Holloway, HII corporate vice president of customer affairs.

Diaz’s military career also includes time as the first executive director of the service branch’s Force Readiness Command, acting director of the International Affairs Directorate, commanding officer of USCGC Sherman cutter and a maritime homeland security adviser to the U.S. House speaker.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.