In 2002, there were 38,521 active-duty military personnel and 23,259 civilian personnel stationed in Washington, nearly half of whom were at Fort Lewis near Tacoma. Other chief facilities in Washington include a Trident nuclear submarine base at Bangor, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, McChord Air Force Base (Tacoma), and Fairchild Air Force Base (Airway Heights). In 2002, federal defense contract awards totaled about $2.45 billion.
According to the 2000 Census, there were 670,628 veterans living in Washington, of whom 104,590 served during World War II; 64,921 in the Korean conflict; 212,968 during the Vietnam era; and 94,170 during 1990–2000 (including the Persian Gulf War). During 2002, veterans' benefits totaled more than $1.2 billion.
In 2000, the Washington State Patrol employed 987 full-time sworn officers.