Lieutenant Colonel Mary Virginia Erdman was born in South Bend, IN, and has resided in Hot Springs Village since 1997. Her awards include two Army Commendation Medals and the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal. Lieutenant Colonel Erdman is the first female veteran to be inducted into the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

Lieutenant Colonel Erdman served in the U.S. Army Reserves Nurse Corps and as an adjutant at the U.S. Army Reserve Forces School from 1986 to 2003. She was activated for Desert Storm and served in Panama, Germany, and El Salvador. She graduated from the Command and General Staff College Combined Arms and Services Staff School and is certified as a battle-focused instructor.

Lieutenant Colonel Erdman is active in several veteran service organizations, including serving as the commander of the Arkansas State American Legion Department from 2012 to 2013, American Legion National Executive Committeeman, vice president of the Arkansas Veterans Coalition, VFW District Adjutant, Disabled American Veterans van driver, VA volunteer, and she regularly bakes and helps serve meals at Saint Francis House in Little Rock, a transition house for veterans without homes.