Josue Alvarez builds character by overcoming obstacles
By James Auvil
Though only in his second semester at UAH, Josue Alvarez has already earned a spot on our Top 20. A transfer from Jacksonville State and a member of the Alabama Air National Guard, Alvarez operates at a pace that defies expectations. He treats his 70- to 90-hour workweeks managing multiple chains as a baseline rather than an excuse, successfully balancing a rigorous internship, military service, and Dean’s List honors—all while mastering the discipline of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Before starting college, Josue Alvarez was already a leader. He first stepped into a leadership role as president of his high school class of more than 320 students. Leadership was a path he identified long before reaching university.
Since transferring to UAH in Huntsville, Alvarez has worked toward a degree in accounting with aspirations to become a certified public accountant.
“I make sure I stay focused on graduating and being a better version of myself,” he said.
Alvarez has navigated a series of obstacles, including transferring universities, finding jobs, attending school full-time, leading teams and managing his schedule. There were times when he could not make it home to study, forcing him to complete coursework in a parking lot after work to meet deadlines.
“If things need to get done, they need to get done,” he said.
That drive caught the attention of Panda Express CEO Andrew Cherng. Cherng was impressed with Alvarez’s ability to balance work, school, military service and life, using him as an example of success for other branches.
Alvarez is part of the 117th Fatality Search and Recovery Team, which deploys to areas affected by natural disasters or catastrophic events to locate and care for missing persons. As part of the Operation Healthy Tennessee Innovative Readiness Training, he helped provide free dental, optometry and veterinary care to 2,600 people.
He is scheduled to deploy to Kuwait in spring 2027 for six months. He is determined to walk across the stage and receive his undergraduate diploma before deploying. While his specific duties remain undetermined as the situation in the region develops, he may be assigned a support role focused on repairs and assistance for personnel already stationed in the Middle East.
As a leader, Alvarez has faced high-stakes situations throughout his service. He was named dorm chief of 53 trainees in basic military training, where he was responsible for ensuring every detail met military standards. That role provided one of his first opportunities to lead and take on significant responsibility.
Alvarez aims to share his work ethic and belief—"It’ll be OK, it’ll build character"—with colleagues and fellow service members to help them succeed.
“I want to be a leader who uplifts others through service, discipline and example,” he said.
