A Message from WDVA Director David Puente

He is actively involved in his community serving as a mediator with the Thurston County Dispute Resolution Center, and on the board of directors for the South Puget Sound Community College Foundation and the Washington State Employees Credit Union. He resides in Olympia, WA.

David Puente Jr.

David Puente Jr. was appointed Director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs in February of 2023. Prior to that he served as WDVA’s Deputy Director beginning in February 2020. 

Puente is committed to ensuring WDVA is focused on adapting to emerging issues to achieve the vision of improving the quality of life for Veterans and their families. 

Puente is an Army Veteran, serving in the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command, and a member of American Legion Post 164.  

Prior to joining WDVA he served at the Department of Labor and Industries for 28 years. 

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational safety and health from Central Washington University. He serves on the board of directors for the Washington Youth Academy Foundation, as a board member of CIELO, Centro Integral Educativo Latino de Olympia, and a member of American Legion Post 164. He enjoys serving his community by officiating baseball and football as a member of the Washington Officials Association. He is also a member of the South Sound Football Official Association, Thurston County Youth Football League, and South Sound Umpires Association. 

Cheryl Strange

Cheryl Strange has been serving as Secretary of the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) since May 15, 2021. Prior to her appointment as Secretary of Corrections, Strange served as Secretary of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), the state’s largest human service agency, where she was appointed to the position by Governor Jay Inslee in 2017. She is a respected and proven leader who has cultivated a humane, progressive and equitable institutional culture.  

Strange has dedicated her life to public service, serving more than 40 years in government, non-profits, and labor organizations, holding leadership positions in those organizations for over half of that time. She served as DOC deputy secretary from 2008 to 2011. She has also served as vice president for Pioneer Human Services where she worked on the important issues of reentry, work release, and behavioral health. Prior to serving as DSHS Secretary, she served as CEO of Western State Hospital, and director of Health Benefits Trust for SEIU 775. Strange was also assistant director for the DSHS Mental Health Division, where she managed the state's public mental health system, including the state’s three hospitals, and community outpatient mental health services.  

Strange earned her bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College, her Master of Public Administration from Seattle University, completed the executive management program certification at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, and earned a certificate in healthcare policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

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