From war zone to dance floor

Watch as Christina surprised her little sister at Furry School in the player belowouriel@sanduskyregister.comWhether on the ground or in the air, Christina (Quillen) Diaz lives a life few can fathom.The 2000 Perkins High School graduate is both a U.S. Air Force captain, serving a tour of duty in the Middle East during wartime, and a champion ballroom dancer.Today she safeguards the country from enemy warfare potentially heading stateside."I'm just grateful for everything," Diaz said.During a recent visit to Ohio, Diaz talked with the Register about her life.Air ForceIn 2001, Diaz earned a spot into the U.S. Air Force Academy.In 2008, three years after graduating from the academy and learning in places such as France, commanders sent Diaz to Afghanistan as part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force.She supervised and coordinated with about 1,000 other American military personnel in sensitive missions related to coordinating attacks against al-Qaeda and other enemies."I ensured that there were Air Force assets for special ops missions," she said. "I was in an operations center and worked with the Marines and the Army. I also made sure we had the right transportation for the special ops team. It was a very intense time in Afghanistan."Being a woman also proved beneficial, both in caring for and gathering intelligence from locals."Very few women were assigned to special ops," Diaz said. "But a group of women and nurses and medics would go out into the village and treat the women and children (in Afghanistan) as a way to develop relationships with them. The locals would tell us where the bad guys were. So if there were any leads, we would learn about them and take care of the enemy."After coming back to the U.S., she continued her military service as an aeronautical engineer primarily in California."It's essentially development of aircraft along with design and production," she said. "I did it because I have a love for math, science and solving hard problems."During the next few years, she oversaw launches and the development of sophisticated rockets and satellites designed to safeguard national security."Bottom line, my job is defense of the nation," Diaz said.Right now, Diaz is in the U.S. Air Force reserves with aspirations to move up in rank."I chose to do the reserves as a way to continue to wear the uniform and still support the military as a defense contractor in Los Angeles," Diaz said. "I'm real proud of wearing the uniform, and it was important for me to do my part."Among the best lessons she learned while fighting overseas is what it means to be an American. "We as Americans have so many freedoms that we need to value each and every day," she said. "The simple things like getting in your car and driving down the road without being worried, you can't have that everywhere in the world. Just having that next warm meal or knowing you can hug your mom or dad or husband or wife, you can't take that for granted."Dance, dance revelationFor most military personnel protecting the nation, rest and relaxation doesn't happen on a hardwood floor.But Diaz, a champion ballroom dancer who has won several national and world competitions in recent years, thrives when she's in rhythm."I'm really lucky because in California I train with some of the most prestigious coaches and other high-level dancers," said Diaz, who's proficient in dances such as the waltz, rumba, cha cha and more.Dancing, Diaz said, provides a needed balance to her military career."It's a good stress reliever," she said. "I'm in a male-dominated world, so it's fun to get dressed up, put makeup on and be feminine for a bit."As exemplified in both her personal and professional lives, close ones said Diaz is a model person to her country, family and friends."She is always been the most driven person I have known in my life," said Anibal Aguirre Jr., an Air Force captain and Black Hawk pilot who is friends with Diaz. "She is always seeking a new challenge and for the next step in how to lead people. She is a natural-born leader." Register photo / JASON WERLING Christina (Quillen) Diaz surprises her sister, Ava Quillen, on a recent weekday at Furry Elementary School. Diaz is a U.S. Air Force captain and a champion ballroom dancer.Register photo / JASON WERLING Christina (Quillen) Diaz, middle, speaks to a class on a recent weekday at Furry Elementary School. Diaz is a U.S. Air Force captain and a champion ballroom dancer.Photo from Christina Diaz's Facebook pagev