Tammy Dee
Tammy Dee is a Veteran & Family Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist at NAMI, where she serves as a Peer Support Specialist Lead and Advisor supporting veterans and their families nationwide. A U.S. Army veteran with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northwestern State University, Tammy combines military experience, private sector management, and social healthcare credentials to deliver impactful, trauma-informed support. As a certified Traditional Healthcare Worker through the Oregon Health Authority, she manages a caseload of medically retired and formerly serving veterans, providing one-on-one guidance, outreach, and educational presentations that connect individuals to critical resources and restore hope.
Tammy is the developer of an innovative HR Advisory Program designed to transform workplace dynamics through Whole Health Employment practices. Drawing from her lived experience and professional training, she creates low-barrier, behavioral health–integrated solutions that strengthen employee retention, enhance new hire orientation processes, and reduce reliance on corrective performance plans. Her approach bridges gaps between insurance systems, social services, and community resources—addressing employment instability at its root while promoting sustainable workforce engagement.
A recognized leader and advocate, Tammy is passionate about psychological safety, mental health awareness, and veteran community empowerment. Her honors include the Dr. Mary E. Walker Award for exemplary volunteerism supporting military families and the USAA Spirit Award for embodying service to community and nation. Whether consulting with veterans, speaking to diverse audiences, or advising organizations on employment health strategies, Tammy is committed to improving quality of life, strengthening workplaces, and ensuring no service member or family feels alone in their recovery journey.
• Traditional Healthcare Worker (THW) Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist
• Northwestern State University
• Dr. Mary E. Walker Award
• USAA Spirit Award- ROTC
• Veteran Advisory Board at the Portland VA
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• Returning Veterans Project
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith and belief system, and my passion to seek and have better and provide better in life for people. I'm a seeker - when roadblocks come up, I keep seeking new ways forward. The roadblock is just a reroute. It's my commitment to finding answers and finding solutions. I just don't understand what it means sometimes, but I just keep seeking.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Seek people that are helpful and genuine. Look to community colleges and organizations that are designed to be of support, like nonprofits or community organizations with youth support programs for young adults. School counselors are a good start to see where to begin. Seek out organizations where women are in leadership - that's a start. Look for places where volunteerism is available, because when you don't have experience but you have a passion, volunteering is a great way to gain that experience. I also learned about AmeriCorps, which is like the Peace Corps but for domestic work. It's a paid position, though very low income, but you're getting that experience and getting opportunities, and you can even earn education benefits. Either way, just explore your options and explore them fully.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There's not enough behavioral health support in our communities. There needs to be more education about the difference between mental health and behavioral health, so just informing our communities about the difference. Stigma is also a major challenge. We need more resources and more information available.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and service are most important to me. In the Army, we learned about leadership values like loyalty, duty, respect, and selfless service, and those have stayed with me. But if I had to narrow it down, integrity and service are at the core of everything I do.