Nelson Eddy Rivera

Nelson Eddy Rivera is the Director of the Dutchess County Division of Veterans’ Services.

Mr. Rivera enlisted in the United States Navy in 1975. He served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the first Gulf War and remained in Saudi Arabia, working with the Saudi Navy for four years until his military retirement. Some of Mr. Rivera’s many duty assignments during his 20-year military career included: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pacific Missile Range Barking Sands, San Diego, California; Commander Naval Surface Forces Pacific Representative, Chief, Naval Forces Division, U.S. Military Training Mission, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Rivera is also qualified as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. He has received numerous awards and medals, including the Navy Achievement Medal, Battle “E” Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (4 awards), Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (3 awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Pistol Marksmanship Medal, and “Service Officer of the Year 2012” by the American Legion Department of New York.

Upon his military retirement, Mr. Rivera worked for the Veterans Health Administration at VA Hudson Valley Health Care System and received a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the New York State Council on Returning Veterans and Their Families, a position he has held since 2009. He is the Past President of the County Veteran’s Service Officers Association, having represented over 80 veterans’ service counselors across the state.

Mr. Rivera remains active at VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, with the United Way Dutchess-Orange Region, Congressman Maloney’s Veteran Advisory Board and the Town of Plattekill Veterans Committee. He and his wife, Christina, reside in Plattekill and have three grown children and seven grandchildren