Director John P. Alamodin
Biography of John P. Alamodin, OVS Director
The Governor named John P. Alamodin as the Director of the Office of Veterans’ Services and started on June 16, 2024, and oversees a staff of 27. OVS is a division in the State of Hawai`i, Department of Defense.
He comes to the state from the Good Samaritan Society – Pohai Nani where he served as the Senior Director since 2022. Some of the previous positions he held were as Clinic Director for the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Child and Family Service, as the Deputy Director for the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers in Wailuku, a Training and Community Outreach Coordinator for the Lincy Institute (UNLV), Senior Social Worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas, the Director of Health, Human Services and Housing for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Executive Director for the King William Charles Lunalilo Home.
He also is serving as a Lieutenant Colonel, Behavioral Sciences Officer in the Hawai`i Army National Guard and served as Commander of the Medical Readiness Detachment 2021-22. He also served as a Behavioral Health Officer in Task Force Medical for the Joint Task Force COVID-19 response effort, and more recently served as a Behavioral Health Officer in Charge for JTF-50 and TF Maui in support of the Maui wildfires emergency response and recovery efforts.
In 2011, Alamodin direct commissioned into the Army for active-duty service at Fort Hood, Texas. He has deployed overseas three times, initially in 2012-13 in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom as a Behavioral Health Officer in Charge with the 44th Medical Brigade. In 2014, he transitioned to the Texas Army National Guard and deployed in 2017-18 as a Behavioral Health Officer in Charge for the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade in Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Kuwait. Following this deployment, he did an inter-state transfer to the Hawai`i Army National Guard and returned home. In 2022-23, he deployed again with the Texas Army National Guard with the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade for Joint Task Force Mustang in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Kuwait, and served as Senior Field Grade Behavioral Health Officer in Charge of a Combat Aviation Combined Joint Task Force for 1,500 Soldiers from Texas, Maryland, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New York, Puerto Rico, and Hawai‘i Army National Guard units deployed in theater for Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan. He holds a bachelor’s in business administration and Master of Social Work from the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, Honolulu Hawai`i.
His military awards and decorations includes Meritorious Unit Commendation, Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Ribbon With 3 Bronze Service Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon With 1 Bronze Service Star, Inherent Resolve Campaign Ribbon With 2 Bronze Service Stars, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Ribbon With 3 Bronze Service Stars, Global War Terrorism Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Ribbon With Mobilization, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon With 3 Numeral, NATO Medal Meritorious Ribbon, NATO ISAF Ribbon, and Humanitarian Service Medal.
The Hawai`i Office of Veterans’ Services has its main office at the Tripler Army Medical Center. They are responsible for development and management of policies and programs related to Veterans’, their dependents, and/or survivors. OVS acts as a liaison between the Governor and veterans’ organizations and between the Department of Veterans Affairs and individual veterans. OVS has counselors on Kaua`i, O`ahu, Maui and two on Hawai`i. OVS also manages the Hawai`i State Veterans Cemetery in Kāne`ohe.