Andrew John Dobson

LTC Andrew J. Dobson, USA (Ret.) Obituary

Andrew Dobson began his 25-plus-year service in the US Army when he enlisted in 1967, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1992. Starting in January 1970, he served two tours in Vietnam, first acting as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Special Forces in the Mekong Delta, then as 5th Special Forces Group historian, and one year as an Intelligence and Operations Advisor to the South Vietnamese Special Mission Services in Nha Trang.

LTC Dobson’s other primary duty tours included: Intelligence Trainer in the Security Assistance Forces for Latin America, in the Panama Canal Zone; Staff and Command assignments in the 24th Infantry Division, Ft Stewart, Georgia; Strategic Analyst and Special Security Officer, Pacific Command, Hawaii; Developer of Army Advanced Foreign Counterintelligence Training Course, Ft Meade, Maryland; Developer of Strategic Plans and Training, Attaches and Operations Directorate, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA); Intelligence Operations Officer, DIA support, for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon.

LTC Dobson completed several military courses, including Infantry Officer Candidate School, Military Advisors and Assistance Course, Airborne School, Defense Language Institute (Spanish), Human and Counter Intelligence Courses, and Military Intelligence Officers’ Advanced Course.

His awards and commendations include Legion of Merit, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, two Bronze Stars (oak leaf cluster), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Parachutist and Joint Staff Badges.

After retiring from the Army, LTC Dobson worked as a contractor for the DOD and FBI, as a personnel security investigator and clearance adjudicator. He was also a master historical and fantasy miniatures painter and gamer.

LTC Dobson grew up in Los Angeles, earned a BA in History, Loyola University of L.A., and an MA in Medieval European History from The Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. He is survived by his wife, Major Joan Dobson, USA (Ret.), Ph.D. and two sisters, Laurette Dobson of Los Angeles, CA and Leticia Llorente of Miami, FL.

LTC Dobson was an active member of his parish, Sacred Heart Church of Bowie, MD, where he served as a lector and usher. He was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus, member of Council #2577, and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.