Retired Washington state Department of Veterans Affairs Director Alfie Alvarado-Ramos, of Thurston County, has been named the recipient of the state’s 2025 Superior Service Award.
The award is one of several Outstanding Service to Veterans Awards distributed annually by the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), in partnership with the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC).
These annual awards honor individuals and organizations across Washington who have gone above and beyond in serving and supporting the state’s veteran community.
“These awardees represent the best of what it means to serve — selflessly, compassionately, and with unwavering commitment to our veterans,” said current WDVA Director David Puente Jr. in a news release announcing this year’s award recipients. “Their work ensures that the promise of ‘No Veteran Forgotten’ remains a reality throughout Washington state.”
Alvarado-Ramos was recognized for over 30 years of “unwavering service to veterans both in and out of uniform,” WDVA said.
Alvarado-Ramo served 22 years on active duty before joining WDVA as the associate superintendent of the Washington Soldiers Home in 1993. She later became the superintendent of the Washington Veterans Home and served as the agency’s assistant director and deputy director. Gov. Jay Inslee appointed her as director of the WDVA in 2013, a position she held until her retirement in January 2023.
“Alfie’s legacy of empathy and innovation continues to transform lives across Washington,” WDVA said in a news release.
Other recipients of this year’s Outstanding Service to Veterans Awards are Christopher Diaz of Skagit County and the Blue Mountain Action Council in Walla Walla County.
State Sens. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, and Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley, and state Reps. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, and Clyde Shavers, D-Clinton, were also recognized for their support of veterans’ interest in the state Legislature.
