Dee Padgett was commissioned in February 1966 and began her career with the Army Nurse Corps. She was sent to Vietnam and returned a year later. She spent most of her career in the Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 1996.

Through most of her adult life she has worked as a civilian nurse, retiring recently after 46 years. Her last hospital was Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente. 

Dee was the first woman commander of the San Clemente Post 7142, which she held for 10 years.