Philip Alagia was born and raised in Newark’s North Ward, where he attended Our Lady of Good Counsel and Ridge Street elementary schools, Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair and earned a degree in Accounting from Rutgers University.

Since 2003, Philip B. Alagia has served as Chief of Staff for the County of Essex under County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo. During this time, Essex County has seen unprecedented improvement and progress, from the restoration of fiscal stability to award-winning renovations of the Historic Courthouse and Park System. In addition to his overall responsibilities as Chief of Staff, Philip oversees both the Essex County Department of Corrections and the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center. Due to innovative programs spearheaded by the Chief of Staff, these two departments bring an additional $50 million dollars to the County.

His first professional experience was working at The North Ward Center a nationally recognized Community Social Service Agency. He remains involved as a member of the Board of Directors of the Robert Treat Academy, a national Blue Ribbon School. Students of the Academy, one of the first Charter schools in New Jersey, have achieved test scores high enough to rank as one of the best schools in the state.

Phil is also the founder of the New Jersey Pride Softball Organization, a nationally recognized softball program for girls, which has sent hundreds of players to college on softball scholarships. Phil coached the Newark Project Pride Softball Team to the National Championship of the Major League Baseball-sponsored RBI Program.

Phil is married to Anmarie Daunarummo, a teacher of autistic pre-school children in the Newark Public Schools. They reside in Fairfield, NJ with their three children, Philip, Giuliana and Carmela.