Veteran’s experience informs his work with WA Cares
Navy veteran Will Reeves brings the values of integrity and passion for teaching from his military service to his role as Senior Policy Strategist for the WA Cares Fund.
“I was in the nuclear engineering program in the submarine force, specializing in chemistry and radiological controls on the USS Ohio and USS Michigan,” he explains of his eight-year naval career, which was driven by his love for science and commitment to public service.
During his time in the naval service, he valued the diversity of the people he encountered. “Once you landed in the Chicago area for boot camp, you were thrown into a melting pot of everyone else who decided to join. I met so many people from around the country and even around the world.”
Building WA Cares
Now, he is helping create a first-in-the-nation long-term care program, helping Washington workers prepare for their future by ensuring they have access to long-term care when they need it.
“We’re getting really close to program launch in mid-2026, and a lot of the work revolves around regulations, policy, IT and just finding the best way to have a successful program,” says Reeves.
His work involves balancing legal and regulatory requirements with IT infrastructure development while ensuring accountability to the public.
“We’re predicting the future and doing our best to ensure the program is sustainable, accessible, and accountable. DSHS, HCA, and ESD have been entrusted with billions of dollars contributed by employees in this state.”
Values that guide his approach
The integrity and accountability instilled during his military service remain central to his work today.
“I learned the power of accountability, and that you learn from both mistakes and successes. As long as I hold on to my integrity and stay accountable to myself, I know I will have a positive impact regardless of what comes my way.”
His passion for advocacy has been consistent throughout his DSHS career. “My motivation continues to be advocating for our clients. We’ve re-written Medicaid eligibility regulations to prevent financial exploitation of long-term care applicants and written new regulations to hold guardians accountable. I also worked with the judiciary to rewrite their guardian disciplinary regulations.”
“It’s the dismantling of barriers,” he explains. “Our house of human services is built upon being an employer of choice.” He describes a moment in the last several years. “DSHS champions belonging. We all bring such unique perspectives, and I’ve realized so many others share a journey like mine.” He speaks to the agency’s focus on EDAI principles, especially neurodiversity. “Knowing I am not alone is empowering.” But it doesn’t stop there, he says. “Others that may have struggled like me. I want them to know they are also not alone.”
Teaching and learning
He finds the greatest fulfillment in the same things that motivated him during his military service: “I love to learn and to teach. It excites me when I learn something new, or when I see that light bulb brighten in others. If I can help make something better for our clients or my team, I am fulfilled.”
As WA Cares prepares to deliver benefits to people when they want it, where they want it, and how they want it, he continues to apply the lessons learned from his naval service to create a program that ensures all working Washingtonians have access to long-term care when they need it.
