Everett Alvarez, Jr.

Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr., a distinguished Naval officer, attorney and former government executive, is best known to the public as the first American aviator shot down over North Vietnam.  He was taken prisoner on August 5, 1964 and held in North Vietnam as a POW for 8 ½ years, until the general release of the American prisoners on February 12, 1973. 

Commander Alvarez earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Santa Clara in Santa Clara, California, a Master’s Degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the United States Naval Post Graduate School, a Juris Doctorate Degree from the George Washington University School of Law, an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Service, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center.

Commander Alvarez served in Program Management at the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington D.C. until his retirement from the Navy in 1980. In April 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Commander Alvarez as Deputy Director of the Peace Corps and was confirmed by the Senate. He held the post until August of 1982.

In July 1982, he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the Senate as Deputy Administrator (Deputy Secretary) of the Veterans Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs) and served in the post until 1986.  In 1986, Hospital Corporation of America hired Mr. Alvarez as Vice President for Government Services.  In 1987, he founded Conwal , Inc. of McLean, Virginia.  In 2004, Commander Alvarez founded Alvarez & Associates, a consulting company headquartered in Tysons Corner, VA with offices in Denver, Colorado.