Dorothy L. Starbuck

Starbuck was born into a large family in Denver, Colorado on October 17, 1917 where she had 11 siblings.[1] Starbuck graduated from Loretto Heights College with a bachelor's degree in journalism and went on to do graduate work at the University of Denver.[2] She taught elementary school for two years.[2]

In 1942, Starbuck joined the Women's Army Corps (WAC) and earned her commission from the Army Corps Officers' Candidate School as a second lieutenant in 1942.[3][4] Her first duty station was at Lowery Army Airfield as a commander of a group of photo analysts.[2] Starbuck later served overseas during World War II and achieved the rank of captain.[3] In Europe, during the war, she served at General Dwight D. Eisenhower's London Headquarters, where she held a top secret clearance.[4] She left the service in December of 1945.[3]

In 1946, she became a clerk at the Chicago Regional Office of the Veterans Administration (VA).[5] In 1962, she was named the assistant director of the Baltimore VA Regional Office, making her the first woman to earn a senior manager position in the VA.[5] By 1963, she was director of the Denver Regional VA Office.[5] In 1977, Starbuck was named the chief benefits director of the VA, becoming the first woman to hold that position.[5][6] That same year, she argued that Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) were not entitled to veterans' benefits since they had been a civilian program.[7]

In 1980, she received the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service.[5] Starbuck retired from the VA in 1985.[8] She died on July 19, 1996 and was buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery.[8]

• Dorothy Starbuck on Find A Grave