Steve Mooney Dies at 54 After 23 Years of Military Service and Veterans Advocacy Work

 West Virginia is mourning a public servant whose adult life was shaped by military duty and service to fellow veterans. Steven Craig “Steve” Mooney, Director of Operations for the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance, died September 27, 2026, at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center at age 54. His death closes a life marked by more than two decades in uniform and years spent helping the state’s veteran community and its veterans.

Born September 26, 1972, in Huntington, West Virginia, Mooney later made Ashland, Kentucky, his home. His professional path reflected a continuing connection to military service, first through the West Virginia Army National Guard and later through his civilian work with the Department of Veterans Assistance. He ultimately became a familiar figure to veterans and colleagues through a role centered on supporting people who had served their country and needed assistance across West Virginia.

Mooney retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 after 23 years of military service, according to his obituary. He served with the West Virginia Army National Guard and was associated with the 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), while also working as a supervisor at Field Maintenance Shop 7. His military career included service connected with Egypt, Afghanistan, and Iraq, experiences that formed a substantial chapter of his life and professional identity and responsibilities.

The record of his military service includes several decorations recognizing his work and assignments. Among them were the Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and campaign medals for Afghanistan and Iraq. Those distinctions provide a formal measure of his military career, but his later work gave him another avenue through which to serve people connected to the armed forces and their families.

After retiring from military service, Mooney became Director of Operations for the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance. In that position, he continued working within the veteran community, helping support the department’s mission and the people who rely on veterans’ services. His career therefore moved from wearing the uniform himself to contributing to the systems and programs intended to assist other veterans after their own military service had ended, extending his commitment beyond retirement.

News of Mooney’s death has brought grief to his family, colleagues, fellow service members, and friends. His obituary describes a close family circle that includes his wife of 16 years, Allison Patterson Mooney, and their daughter, Olivia Noel “Gert” Mooney, along with siblings, nieces, nephews, and extended family. The account of his life also points to a broad network of friends whose connections with him extended beyond his official titles and military responsibilities throughout the years.

His final days were spent at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, where his family later expressed gratitude to the doctors and staff for the care provided to him. Publicly available obituary information does not identify a specific cause of death, and no assumption about his medical circumstances should be made from the location where he died. His funeral service is scheduled for October 5 at Morris Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery as family and friends gather.

Steve Mooney’s legacy now rests in two connected chapters: a 23-year military career and a subsequent commitment to West Virginia’s veterans. From overseas operations and National Guard leadership to civilian service, his work remained closely tied to the military community he knew firsthand. As relatives, friends, colleagues, and fellow veterans gather to remember him, those years of service will remain a defining part of the life he leaves behind for those who knew him.