Mohamad Omar Diab
Each year, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris highlights a veteran from each of the six cities she represents (Assembly District 74) for their service commitment to the community.
This year, Irvine resident Mohamad Omar Diab has been chosen as the City’s 2020 Veteran of Year for Assembly District 74.
Mohamad was born in Washington state. In 2005, his family moved to Irvine where Mohamad attended our City’s public schools and graduated from University High School in 2014.
After high school, Mohamad enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served as as an Aviation Ordnance Technician. Marine Corps aviation ordnance technicians perform some of the most dangerous tasks in the military. They inspect ammunition, test aircraft systems, perform preventive maintenance and effect repairs, load and fuze ammunition and arm/de-arm aircraft.
Mohamad spent four years at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. During his service, he had the opportunity to travel a great deal, including a detachment to Okinawa, Japan where he was able to experience a different culture than his own. After the completion of his detachment, Mohamad achieved the qualifications of Quality Assurance Safety Observer, Collateral Duty Inspector and Work Center Supervisor at the rank of Corporal for his proficiency and maturity.
Mohamad was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 2018 after being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
After his military service, Mohamad returned to Irvine, where he enrolled at Irvine Valley College (IVC) and was hired to work in the Veteran Services Center at IVC.
During his time at IVC, Mohamad continued his service to our community by assisting his fellow student veterans in successfully transitioning to civilian life by helping them to identify benefits available to veterans on and off campus, and notifying them of events and activities geared towards veterans.
Mohamad has also spent the past two year volunteering with community beach clean-up events, food drives, holiday meal disbursements and community flu shot clinics.
In May, Mohamad graduated Cum Laude from Irvine Valley College with a 3.7 GPA, earning his Associates in Arts degree with an emphasis on Social and Behavioral Sciences. He is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services at California State University, Fullerton while continuing to work in the Veteran Services Center at IVC.
Mohamad also serves the community through his work at the Merage Jewish Community Center in Irvine.
To watch the Zoom presentation from Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris to Mohamad and the other five veterans who were named their city’s “Veteran of the Year,” click here.
