Dottie Barickman was born in Nashville, Tennessee and later moved to Columbus, Mississippi. She attended Northwest Mississippi Junior College and continued finance and accounting studies at Memphis State College. A summer college break job at Yellowstone Park offered an opportunity to meet and befriend students from across the U.S. and helped shape her outlook on life.
Following college, she enlisted in the United States Air Force. She learned computer programming and served 4 years. Her ongoing civilian career includes work as a Project Control Manager, Group Health Underwriter and Manager, and Human Resources Professional.
Dottie has served as an officer at all levels of Vietnam Veterans of America. Current duties as a National Director -at - Large include Chair of the VVA Finance Committee and membership in the Legislative and Women Veterans Committees and VVA Legacy Task Force. She was a volunteer and escort on the Nebraska Vietnam Honor Flight. She was instrumental in bringing the Vietnam related play “A Piece of My Heart” to the Omaha Blue Barn Theatre, and subsequently to the Women in Military Service Association (WIMSA) theater in Washington D.C.
Recognitions include the VVA Accommodation Award, Quilts of Valor, State Veteran Women of the Year Honoree, State Salute to Women Honoree, and Certificates of Achievement for her services to VVA.
Dottie was instrumental early in the formation of the Nebraska Vietnam Veteran Memorial Foundation and has served as Chair of the Education and History Committee.
She and her husband, Dave, have a son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandsons.
