In February 2023, while snow covered the training grounds of Newport, Rhode Island, Liberty Zabala found herself crawling through smoke-filled compartments simulating a sinking warship. The four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist wasn’t covering a story—she was living one. After nearly a decade reporting on military personnel in San Diego, she had made the decision to serve alongside them as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
This transformation from observer to participant defines Zabala’s remarkable career. Now known professionally as Liberty Simmons following her June 2024 marriage, though she continues to be widely recognized as Liberty Zabala in her archived work and many current media contexts, she continues breaking barriers as both a respected journalist at DC News Now and a Navy Reserve Public Affairs Officer, representing a new generation of media professionals who refuse to choose between civilian excellence and military service.
Who Is Liberty Zabala? Understanding Her Dual Identity
Liberty Zabala is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and commissioned Public Affairs Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Born in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, she has carved out a unique professional path that bridges two traditionally separate worlds: civilian journalism and military service.
Currently serving as a morning reporter and fill-in news anchor for DC News Now in Washington, D.C., she simultaneously maintains her military commitment as a Navy Reserve officer. Her story exemplifies modern American opportunity, showing how the daughter of Filipino immigrants can achieve excellence in multiple demanding fields while honoring both her heritage and her adopted country.
What makes Liberty Zabala particularly significant is her role as host of “Veterans Voices,” a program that directly connects her civilian journalism skills with her military service, creating authentic storytelling that bridges the gap between military and civilian communities.
Essential Facts About Liberty Zabala
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Liberty Zabala (professionally Liberty Simmons after marriage) |
| Born | July 3, 1986 |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Birthplace | Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Nationality | Filipino-American |
| Primary Profession | Reporter, News Host |
| Military Role | U.S. Navy Reserve Public Affairs Officer |
| Current Employer | DC News Now |
| Notable Achievement | Four Emmy Awards |
| Education | American Military University (Master’s), California State University Northridge |
| Father | Laurencio ‘Larry’ De Venecia Zabala, Jr. (deceased 2016) |
| Spouse | Tyler Simmons (married June 15, 2024) |
| Military Awards | Vada and Colonel Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship |
Early Life: From Filipino Immigrant Dreams to American Success
Liberty Zabala’s name carries profound meaning. Born on July 3, 1986—the day before Independence Day—her Filipino immigrant parents deliberately chose “Liberty” to honor their deep appreciation for America. Her middle name, “Angel,” reflects her survival as a three-pound premature baby.
Her father, Laurencio ‘Larry’ De Venecia Zabala, Jr., exemplified the American dream. Growing up in extreme poverty in a fishing village in the Philippines, he used journalism to escape hardship, eventually becoming accomplished enough to be appointed as a foreign diplomat to the United States. He passed away on July 21, 2016, while receiving treatment at Los Angeles Community Hospital. While her mother’s specific role remains private, Liberty has spoken about being raised as the youngest of three sisters in a household that valued both education and public service.
“Growing up hearing those stories would instill in me this gratitude for being an American and for all the rights and opportunities that were afforded me because I was born here,” Zabala has explained. These early influences from Laurencio ‘Larry’ De Venecia Zabala, Jr. shaped her understanding of public service and storytelling as tools for positive change.
As the youngest of three sisters, Liberty initially aspired to become an archaeologist, inspired by adventure characters like Indiana Jones and Lara Croft. However, watching her father read newspapers every morning and work on his typewriter planted seeds that would eventually blossom into her journalism career.
Educational Foundation: Building Expertise Across Disciplines
Liberty Zabala holds degrees from two respected institutions that reflect her diverse interests. She earned her journalism degree from California State University, Northridge, with a collateral in political science and emphasis in international relations. This foundation provided both the technical skills for journalism and the global perspective that would later inform her military service.
More recently, she completed her Master of Arts in Homeland Security with a concentration in Counterterrorism from American Military University, graduating on the Dean’s List in May 2024. This advanced degree demonstrates her commitment to understanding complex security challenges facing modern democracies. Her choice to specialize in counterterrorism directly complements both her journalism career covering national security issues and her military role as a Public Affairs Officer, creating a unique expertise that bridges academic theory with practical application in both civilian and military contexts.
She also graduated from the FBI Citizens Academy at the FBI San Diego Field Office in 2019, further expanding her expertise in law enforcement and national security matters.
How Did Liberty Zabala Start Her Journalism Career?
Liberty’s media career began at KCOY/KKFX, the CBS/FOX affiliate covering California’s Central Coast, where she worked as a multimedia journalist. Her breakthrough came in 2014 when she was selected as one of only four reporter trainees nationwide for the prestigious NBC Reporter Development Program.
This intensive program placed her alongside NBCUniversal’s top media executives, talent, and coaches at NBC 5 Dallas, NBC 10 Philadelphia, and NBC 4 New York under the direction of The Poynter Institute’s Al Tompkins. The training taught her to write, shoot, edit, and report enterprise stories for three live newscasts daily.
Her six years at NBC 7 San Diego established her as a formidable presence in competitive Southern California media. During this period, she covered major stories including:
- The Central American immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border
- Devastating firestorms across San Diego County
- The San Bernardino terrorist attacks
- The Las Vegas mass shooting
- The Afghanistan withdrawal suicide bombing
Her work earned recognition beyond San Diego, with reports filed internationally from Belize and Israel, demonstrating her ability to cover complex global stories.
Liberty Zabala’s Success at FOX 5 San Diego
Where did Liberty Zabala win her Emmy Awards? Her transition to FOX 5 San Diego marked the peak of her civilian journalism recognition. Serving as both reporter and weekend weather anchor, she earned her four Emmy Awards during this period, cementing her reputation as one of San Diego’s most accomplished journalists.
Her excellence at FOX 5 also earned her a first-place San Diego Press Club award for coverage of a downtown building fire, completed in collaboration with photojournalist Michael Saucedo. This recognition came even as she was preparing for her major life transition to Washington, D.C.
During her time at FOX 5, she conducted high-profile interviews with presidential candidates Rand Paul, Ron Paul, and Newt Gingrich, Senator Kamala Harris, 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert B. Neller, world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao, comic creator Stan Lee, and media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
Additional Awards and Professional Recognition
Beyond her four Emmy Awards, Liberty Zabala has received numerous accolades that demonstrate her authority in both journalism and military affairs. She was awarded the prestigious Vada and Colonel Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship by the Radio Television Digital News Foundation, specifically recognizing her work covering Marines, sailors, active-duty service members, and veterans in San Diego, one of the nation’s largest military communities.
Her leadership in professional organizations has also been recognized, earning her the AAJA National 2017 “Chapter President of the Year” award during her service with the Asian American Journalists Association, where she served as president of the San Diego chapter after previously holding a board director position for the Los Angeles chapter.
Her comprehensive coverage has earned multiple San Diego Press Club awards, and she was honored as one of 100 Comcast NBCUniversal employees selected nationwide to participate in Mika Brzezinski’s “Know Your Value” program in association with MSNBC in November 2016. These recognitions underscore her expertise and authority in the field of journalism, particularly in military and national security reporting.
After covering the military community in San Diego for nearly a decade, Liberty was profoundly moved by the stories of service members she encountered. These narratives of heroism and sacrifice consistently resonated with her, inspiring a desire to serve her country more directly.
“I am so grateful to God for what my family has been able to accomplish here and what I have been able to accomplish here, and for me, it’s important to give back,” she explained. “I have been just so touched and moved by these stories that I’ve covered of our service members here of heroism and bravery and those stories have always stuck with me.”
The U.S. Navy Reserve offered the perfect solution. It allowed her to maintain her civilian journalism career while serving one weekend a month as a Navy Public Affairs Officer. Her communications and public relations background made her an ideal candidate for this dual role.
Liberty Zabala’s Military Training and Commission
In February 2023, Ensign Liberty Zabala graduated from Officer Development School at Newport, Rhode Island, and became one of the newest members of the Navy’s public affairs community. She served as company commander during the intensive five-week program.
The training included damage control exercises, physical conditioning, and extensive academic instruction. “It’s been a sink or swim endeavor since being sworn in,” she noted, referring both to the metaphorical challenges and the literal water survival training that included simulating sinking ship scenarios.
Her role as a Navy Reserve Public Affairs Officer perfectly combines her journalistic skills with military service, allowing her to tell and protect the stories of Navy personnel from both civilian and military perspectives.
What Happened to Liberty Zabala? Her Move to Washington, D.C.
Many people ask what happened to Liberty Zabala after she left FOX 5 San Diego. She relocated to Washington, D.C., in 2023 to be with her then-fiancé Tyler Simmons, a Marine Corps infantry officer, while pursuing significant new career opportunities in the nation’s capital. Her move strategically positioned her to advance her journalism career at DC News Now, a major media outlet serving the nation’s political center, while allowing her to continue her Navy Reserve service at installations throughout the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.
The transition proved remarkably successful. “It’s truly been a blessing to be honest,” she reflected. “I didn’t know that I would love my new home and new career path here so much, but I am truly grateful.”
Her move also allowed her to seamlessly continue her Navy Reserve service without interruption, demonstrating the flexibility that military reserve programs offer to dual-career professionals.
Where Is Liberty Zabala Now? Current Role at DC News Now
Liberty Zabala currently works as a four-time Emmy-winning morning show reporter and fill-in news anchor for DC News Now in Washington, D.C. She maintains demanding hours, waking at 1 a.m. Monday through Friday, arriving at the station around 3 a.m., and reporting every half hour starting at 5 a.m.
Most significantly, she serves as anchor and host of “Veterans Voices,” an annual half-hour special dedicated to the military and veteran community across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. Recent episodes have featured compelling stories like Sergeant First Class Tyler Butterworth, a Virginia Army National Guard member who has become a social media influencer using humor to connect civilians with military service.
This role represents the perfect synthesis of her dual careers, allowing her to use her journalistic expertise to honor military stories while serving as an active member of the military community herself.
Is Liberty Zabala Married? Personal Life and Family
Yes, Liberty Zabala is married to Tyler Simmons, a Marine Corps infantry officer. The couple wed on June 15, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in a ceremony they celebrated as #SimmonsWedding2024. Their marriage represents the union of two military-connected professionals: she as a Navy Reserve officer and journalist, he as an active-duty Marine Corps infantry officer.
Her Instagram profile now includes references to being a wife and mother, indicating their growing family. The couple’s relationship exemplifies the strong bonds often formed within military communities, where shared values of service and sacrifice create deep connections.
Understanding Liberty Zabala’s Professional Name Usage
Following her marriage to Tyler Simmons, Liberty uses both Liberty Simmons as her married name and Liberty Zabala in many professional contexts. This dual naming convention is common practice among established journalists who have built recognition under their maiden names. She appears as Liberty Simmons in her current role at DC News Now and in personal social media, while maintaining Liberty Zabala for archived work, professional awards, and some current media references.
This approach allows her to honor her married identity while preserving the professional brand she built throughout her decade-long career in San Diego journalism and her military service recognition.
Challenges of a Dual Career in Journalism and Military Service
Maintaining excellence in both civilian journalism and military service presents unique logistical, professional, and personal challenges that few professionals attempt to navigate simultaneously. Liberty Zabala’s dual career requires careful coordination between her civilian employer’s demanding schedule and her military drill weekends and training requirements.
The professional challenge involves maintaining objectivity as a journalist while serving as a military officer, requiring careful attention to ethical boundaries and disclosure practices. Her Navy Reserve service must be conducted with full transparency to her civilian employers, while her journalism work requires clear separation from any appearance of military influence.
Personally, the demanding schedule of morning television combined with military training creates intense time management pressures. As she noted, “I feel like every second counts, so every second you should be doing something to accomplish the goal, and that’s how I’ve been able to get through it.”
Her success in both fields demonstrates that with proper planning, ethical awareness, and institutional support, dual careers in media and military service can enhance rather than compromise professional effectiveness. Her military experience provides authentic insight for covering defense stories, while her journalism skills contribute valuable communication expertise to her military role.
What Is Liberty Zabala’s Ethnicity and Background?
Liberty Zabala is Filipino-American, representing first-generation immigrant success in American media and military service. Her heritage plays a significant role in her professional identity, particularly her commitment to diverse representation in journalism.
“We, as journalists and news organizations, have a duty to reflect the community we serve, and that leads to more accurate and more comprehensive coverage,” she has explained. “I want to continue to help others grow and ensure they are able to serve as journalists in the industry, bringing in an Asian American perspective as well.”
San Diego County has the second-largest Filipino American population of any U.S. county, making her representation particularly meaningful in that media market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Liberty Zabala
• Q: What is Liberty Zabala’s age? A: Born on July 3, 1986, Liberty Zabala is currently 38 years old.
• Q: Is Liberty Zabala married? A: Yes, Liberty Zabala married Tyler Simmons, a Marine Corps infantry officer, on June 15, 2024.
• Q: Where is Liberty Zabala now? A: She currently works as a reporter and host for DC News Now in Washington, D.C., while serving as a U.S. Navy Reserve Public Affairs Officer.
• Q: What is Liberty Zabala’s ethnicity? A: Liberty Zabala is Filipino-American, the daughter of Filipino immigrant parents.
• Q: How many Emmy Awards has Liberty Zabala won? A: Liberty Zabala has won four Emmy Awards for her journalism work.
• Q: What happened to Liberty Zabala at FOX 5? A: She left FOX 5 San Diego in 2023 to move to Washington, D.C., for personal and professional reasons.
• Q: What is Liberty Zabala’s military role? A: She serves as a commissioned Public Affairs Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve while maintaining her civilian journalism career.
The Global Impact of Liberty Zabala’s Dual Career
Liberty Zabala’s story resonates beyond American borders as an example of how democratic societies benefit when media professionals understand military service firsthand. In nations like Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where similar civil-military dialogue challenges exist, her model demonstrates how journalist-veterans can bridge understanding between civilian populations and military communities.
Her work with the “Veterans Voices” program helps bridge civilian-military divides that exist in many democratic nations. By serving in both capacities, she provides authentic storytelling that helps civilian audiences understand military culture while ensuring military stories receive professional journalistic treatment.
Her trajectory from Filipino immigrant daughter to nationally recognized journalist and military officer embodies democratic opportunity while demonstrating how individual success can be channeled into broader service. This model has relevance for diverse democracies worldwide where immigration, military service, and media representation intersect.
Legacy and Continuing Influence
Liberty Zabala’s career represents more than personal achievement—it demonstrates how modern professionals can serve their countries while excelling in demanding civilian careers. Her unique position as both an Emmy-winning journalist and Navy Reserve officer shows how civilian expertise enhances military service and vice versa.
As America continues to address civil-military relations and the challenge of maintaining connections between civilian society and the less than one percent who serve in the military, professionals like Zabala provide essential bridges. By operating successfully in both worlds, she helps ensure military stories receive both professional journalistic standards and genuine understanding of military culture.
Her story continues unfolding in Washington, D.C., where her dual expertise contributes to informed public discourse about military affairs while maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity. In a global context where civilian-military relations remain crucial to democratic governance, her model offers valuable lessons for media professionals worldwide.
Discover more compelling biographies and stories of remarkable individuals making their mark across multiple fields at Feelepa, where we celebrate diverse achievements and authentic storytelling.
