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First Name
Everett
Last Name
Alvarez
Suffix
Jr.
Birthdate
Hometown
Salinas, CA
Rank
Commander
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Everett Alvarez entered the Navy through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program on June 23, 1960, receiving his commission in October 1960, and graduating from Flight School and being designated a Naval Aviator in November 1961. Alvarez's first assignment was with Attack Squadron 144, flying the A-4 Skyhawk. He began flying combat missions from the USS Constellation during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, and was shot down and taken as a Prisoner of War on August 5, 1964, on the first raid into North Vietnam. Alvarez was the longest held aviator shot down in North Vietnam.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Alvarez received a Master's Degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis in October 1976. His final assignment was in Program Management at the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C., from October 1976 until his retirement from the Navy on June 30, 1980. After his retirement, President Reagan nominated Alvarez as Deputy Director of the Peace Corps, where he served from April 1981 to August 1982. During this time, President Reagan nominated him as the Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration, and he served in this position from August 1982 to 1986, when he went to work as Vice President for Government Services of Hospital Corporation of America. Alvarez left that company in late 1987 to form his own consulting company, Conwal Inc. He also formed Alvarez & Associates, another consulting company, in January 2005. Everett Alvarez, Jr. is married to the former Thomasine (Tammy) Ilyas of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and they have two sons, Marc and Bryan.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Silver Star
- Legion of Merit (2)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Bronze Star (2)
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release