Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr., USN (Ret.)

The Naval Order of the United States is proud to announce that Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr., USN (Ret.) will be recognized for his years of distinguished service with the Peace Corps, Veterans Administration, and the Vietnam War Commemoration Advisory Council among many challenging and high profile positions.

The Admiral of the Navy George Dewey Award honors a U.S. citizen eligible for regular membership in the Naval Order who has established a record of exemplary service as a senior civilian that sets that individual apart from his or her peers.

A Vietnam Veteran pilot and POW, who further distinguished himself in his civilian life after retiring from the Navy, CDR Alvarez is the co-author of two books (Chained Eagle and Code of Conduct) and earned a Master’s Degree in Operations and Research Analysis and a Juris Doctor degree.

He served as Deputy Director of the Peace Corps, Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration, Chairman of the Board of the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and numerous other task force, advisory councils, and boards of directors throughout his civilian life.

In 2004 CDR Alvarez founded Alvarez & Associates, an IT consulting firm in Washington, D.C. which sells IT services to the U.S. government.

A native Californian, CDR Alvarez joined the US Navy in 1960 and served during the Vietnam War. He was the first U.S. pilot to be downed and detained during the Vietnam War, spending eight years and seven months in captivity at the “Hanoi Hilton.”

He is the recipient of the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Heart.

The Naval Order of the United States is honored to have CDR Alvarez as the Admiral of the Navy George Dewey Award recipient for 2016.