About Commissioner Barbaree

Taylor Barbaree was elected to the Dothan City Commission District 5 seat July 12, 2005.  He succeeds Mayor Pat Thomas, who served as commissioner for eight years.  Raised in Dothan's Garden District, Barbaree attended Dothan City Schools until age 13, when his family moved to Andalusia.  In 1997, he moved back to Dothan and began work at Troy University's Dothan campus.  Barbaree is currently employed at WOOF Radio and is an adjunct instructor for Wallace College in Dothan and Faulkner University.

A 1988 Andalusia High School graduate, Barbaree received an Associate of Science degree from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in 1990 and a Bachelor of Science degree from Faulkner University in 1994.  Additionally, he earned a Master of Science degree in business management from Faulkner University in 2007.

Active in the community, Barbaree is a member of the Dothan-Houston County Rotary Club, Dothan Area Young Professionals, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Dothan Steering Committee, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Library Committee, Veterans of Foreign Wars (Wiregrass Post 3073), American Legion (Dothan Post 12), YES...We Can and the Dothan High School Tiger Club.  Past involvements include completion of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Dothan program (2003-2004), City of Dothan's 101 Orientation Program (spring 2005), and chair of Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce's Spirit of Service Day (2006-2007).  He has served on numerous boards, including the (Wiregrass Division) March of Dimes, Girls Inc. of Dothan, Dothan-Houston County Substance Abuse Partnership, Southeast Alabama Advertising Federation and the Wiregrass Chapter of the American Red Cross.

As a Commissioner, Barbaree serves as chair of the Library Committee, Dothan Air Service Task Force Committee, Friends of Fort Rucker Committee, Downtown Master Plan Committee, as well as committee service in the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority and Electric Cities of Alabama. He is also a member of the Association of the United States Army, Fort Rucker-Wiregrass Chapter.

As a Soldier, Barbaree is currently assigned to the Alabama Army National Guard's Multi-Media Bureau Branch based at Fort Rucker.  A veteran of more than 20 years, Barbaree presently holds the rank of sergeant and serves as a broadcaster, journalist and public affairs specialist.  During his service in the military, Barbaree has been deployed twice to combat zones, serving in Operation Joint Guardian (Kosovo 2001-2002) and Operation Joint Endeavor (Bosnia 1996-1997), as well as numerous state emergencies, including Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the Enterprise Tornado Relief Mission (March 2007).  His military education includes graduation from the U.S. Army Field Artillery School (Cannon Crewmember's Course (13 Bravo)) and Department of Defense Information/Public Affairs Course (46 Quebec).  His military decorations include the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal with (M) device, Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (2), Humanitarian Medal, NATO Medal (2), Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon.  His state medals include the Alabama Commendation Medal, Alabama National Guard Faithful Service Medal and Active Duty Basic Training Medal.