About Senator Dotzler

Senator Bill Dotzler was elected in 2010 to his third term in the Iowa Senate, after serving three terms in the Iowa House.  He represents Senate District 11 in Waterloo.

Senator Dotzler is an Assistant Majority Leader, chair of the Economic Development Budget Subcommittee and vice-chair of the Economic Growth Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Labor, Human Resources, and Ways & Means committees.

In addition to his legislative work , Senator Dotzler served on the Board at the Iowa Institute for Public Leadership and as a member of the 21st Century Workforce Council and the Governor's Housing Task Force.

Dotzler has served his community as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Waterloo Nursing Association, president of the Friends of Hartman Reserve Nature Center, and charter president of Cedar Trails Partnership.  He was also on the initial Board of Directors of Black Hawk Leadership.

Senator Dotzler was in the United States Army Security Agency, Military Intelligence from 1969-72.  Before receiving an Honorable Discharge, he was an Honor Graduate in Special Identification Techniques Operator School in Fort Devens, Massachusetts.  He received Top Secret Cryptographic Security Clearance and did his Tour of Duty in Berlin, Germany, from 1970-72.

Dotzler has received numerous special recognitions and awards, including the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, the Governor’s Special Recognition Award, and the Governor’s Lifesaving Award.  In 2000, he received the International Citation Award for workforce development, an award once granted to President Kennedy. 

Dotzler graduated from Cedar Falls High school in 1966.  He received his Associate of Arts degree from North Iowa Area Community College in 1969 and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology.

He is retired from John Deere Waterloo Works, where he was employed as a Machine Operator and Labor Representative.  He also worked for Area 7 Job Training Administration.