Detailed background of Shawn Dodson

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Shawn R. Dodson: Left - K9 patrol (1986); Center - patrol division (1994); Right - chief rocket surgeon
performing delicate procedure inside submarine launched fleet ballistic missile (2001)

Detailed Background of Shawn R. Dodson

Law Enforcement Background

Reserve Police Officer (1984-1986, 1993-1997)
Bremerton Police Department, Bremerton, Washington

Sworn law enforcement officer serving a community of approximately 35,000 citizens. Over six years of armed police patrol experience as a specially commissioned Washington peace officer with full powers of arrest. Performed single officer patrol, responded to citizen calls for routine/emergency police services, enforced motor vehicle laws, and provided backup and prisoner transport assistance to full-time officers. Participated in K9 unit training and patrol. Participated in a multi-agency narcotics enforcement task force raid. Awarded four Letters of Commendation for outstanding performance and service to the community. Qualified quarterly with handgun, shotgun and carbine.

Law Enforcement Training and Education

ASP expandable baton certification course, Bremerton Police Department (1997)

Oleoresin Capsaicum (OC pepper spray) aerosol subject restraint certification course, Bremerton Police Department (1997)

Street Survival Tactical Edge Seminar, Calibre Press, Incorporated (1996, 1994, 1986)

Street Survival Win Seminar, Calibre Press, Incorporated (1996, 1994)

Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course, Bremerton Police Department (1996, 1995, 1986)

The Waco Incident (8 hour training seminar presented by John W. [Billy] Buford, Agent, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), Firearms Instructor Continuing Education, Washington State Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor's Association (1995)

1st International Wound Ballistics Conference, International Wound Ballistics Association, Sacramento, California (1994)

Exploding the Mythology of Stopping Power: Ballistic Myths of the 90's (8 hour training seminar presented by Martin L. Fackler, M.D., President, International Wound Ballistics Association), Firearms Instructor Update (2015-A), Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (1993)

Police Operations & Service (CJ204), Frederick Community College, Frederick, Maryland (1988)

Introduction to Criminal Justice (CJ101), Frederick Community College, Frederick, Maryland (1987)

Basic Law Enforcement Training, Bremerton Police Department (1984)

Additional undocumented formal and informal law enforcement and firearms training

Other Law Enforcement Related Activities

Member, (formerly Technical Consultant) International Wound Ballistics Association since 1991

Letter of Recommendation (law enforcement training background, expertise and professionalism), Charles Remsberg, President, Calibre Press, Inc., Northbrook, Illinois

Letter of Recommendation (lawful use of force consultant/expert witness), Nick Lymberis, Attorney at Law, San Jose, California

Consulted by OMNI Medical Group, Inc., Portland, Oregon, as a law enforcement eyesight expert on behalf of the Oregon Department of State Police

Consulted by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, State of California as a law enforcement eyesight expert

Military Background

M1 Abrams Tank Commander (1994-1997)
Company D, 1/303 Armor Regiment, Washington Army National Guard, Bremerton, Washington

Acting platoon sergeant and commander of a four man M1 Abrams main battle tank crew. Acquired hands-on practical experience with M9 handgun, M16A2 rifle, M240 coax machine gun, M2 .50 caliber machine gun, M68 105mm cannon and M256 120mm smoothbore cannon.

Infantry Rifleman/Grenadier (1986-1988)
Company A, 1/115 Light Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard, Frederick, Maryland

Developed combat arms leadership and training skills as an infantry squad leader. Acquired hands-on practical experience with M16A1 rifle, M203 40mm grenade launcher, M60 machine gun, M224 60mm lightweight mortar, M72 LAW rocket, M47 Dragon anti-tank missile, M18A1 claymore anti-personnel mine and C4 plastic explosive.

Fleet Ballistic Missile Technician (1983-1986)
Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific, Naval Submarine Base Bangor, United States Navy, Silverdale, Washington

Trident missile processing supervisor: oversaw all aspects of reentry body assembly mate/demate operations and final assembly, testing, repair and packaging of Trident I (C4) war reserve missiles.

Fleet Ballistic Missile Technician (1981-1983)
USS George Bancroft SSBN 643 (Gold), United States Navy, Charleston, South Carolina

Launch operations station supervisor aboard a fleet ballistic missile submarine: directly responsible for the safety, security and launch readiness of up to 16 Trident I (C4) missiles and associated weapon system support equipment. Collateral duties included serving as an armed nuclear weapons security guard, and as an armed member of the ship's nuclear weapons security alert team. Acquired hands-on practical experience with M14 rifle, M1911A1 handgun and 12 gauge shotgun.

Fleet Ballistic Missile Technician (1979-1980)
USS Hunley As-31, United States Navy, Apra Harbor, Guam

Performed intermediate-level maintenance and testing of Polaris (A3) missiles and missile avionics hardware aboard a fleet ballistic missile submarine tender. Collateral duties included serving as a member of the ship's nuclear weapons security back-up alert force. Acquired hands-on practical experience with M1911A1 handgun, M14 rifle, 12 gauge shotgun and 20mm cannon.

Military Training

M1IP 105mm/M1A1 120mm Abrams Main Battle Tank Crew Conversion Course, Washington Army National Guard (1997)

Leadership Management Education and Training, United States Navy (1986)

Nuclear Emergency Team Operations, United States Air Force (1985)

User Calibration, Lockheed Missiles & Space Company (1984)

Vertical Missile Packaging Building Operations, Lockheed Missiles & Space Company (1984)

Mk 24 Trident I (C4) Backfit Missile Launcher Electrical Maintenance, United States Navy (1983)

Trident I (C4) Backfit Fleet Ballistic Missile Weapon System Team Trainer, United States Navy (1982-1983)

Poseidon (C3) Missile Radiological Controls, United States Navy (1981)

Mk 24 Trident I (C4) Backfit Missile Launcher Hydraulics, United States Navy (1981)

Missile Technician Trident I (C4) Conversion Course, United States Navy (1980)

Poseidon Missile Technician Course, United States Navy (1979)

Polaris Electronics "A" School, United States Navy (1978)

Basic Enlisted Submarine Course, United States Navy (1978)

Civilian Employment Background

Systems Engineer - Field Technical Support, Senior (1990-present)
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Trident II (D5) Missile Subsystem Post Production Center of Excellence (PPCE), Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Provide tactical operations engineering and technical support to deployed U.S. Navy Ohio class Trident ballistic missile submarines.

Lead engineer, Shipyard Support Group, D5 PPCE

Lead engineer, USS Nevada SSBN 733 Engineered Overhaul/D5 Backfit Project

Lead engineer, Trident Training Facility Bangor D5 Installation Project

Consultant to Commander, Submarine Squadron Seventeen

Lead engineer, USS Florida SSBN 728 Engineered Overhaul Project

Test director, USS Ohio SSBN 726/USS Michigan SSBN 727 Engineered Overhaul Projects

Substantial monetary award for superior performance on USS Alaska SSBN 732 Engineered Overhaul/D5 Backfit Project

Superior Performance Award for implementation of D5 Backfit Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

Substantial monetary award for "wringing-out" D5 missile test and readiness equipment fault detection and locating system software

Additional awards and recognition for contributing to fleet battle readiness

Publications Engineer (1989-1990)
Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Sunnyvale, California

Researched, developed and maintained standard operating procedure technical manuals used by ship's force to perform technical and tactical operation of missile subsystem hardware aboard U.S. Navy Ohio class Trident I and Trident II ballistic missile submarines.

Senior Technical Editor/Writer (1986-1989)
Vitro Corporation, Rockville, Maryland

Researched, developed and maintained system-level fault isolation procedure technical manuals used by ship's force to troubleshoot strategic weapon system hardware aboard U.S. Navy Ohio class Trident I and Trident II ballistic missile submarines.

Published Articles

"With a Bullet." Police, 18(6). 6/1994; pp. 56-60

"Sighting-in on Visual Acuity." Law and Order, 41(6), 6/1993; pp. 54-58

Continuing Personal Defense Education and Training

Combative Pistol II, Trident Concepts Research Group, at Seattle, Washington (2003)

Close Quarters Fighting, Trident Concepts Research Group, at Seattle, Washington (2002)

Combative Pistol, Trident Concepts Research Group, at Seattle, Washington (2001)

Low Light Handgun Skills, Insights Training Center, Inc., Seattle, Washington (1998)

Additional Background

Technical consultant, "Anti-Terrorism: Strategic Weapons Facility, Pacific," a corporate video produced by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company for United States Navy (2003)

Appeared in "Deadly Force & Rules of Engagement," a corporate video produced by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space for Marine Corps Security Force Company, Naval Submarine Base Bangor (1998)

Associate instructor/range coach, NRA Home Firearms Safety and Personal Protection Course, Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club, Bremerton, Washington (1997-present)

National Rifle Association Hunter Safety Course/Hunter Safety Training Program Certificate of Competence, California Department of Fish and Game (1975)

Interviewed / featured / quoted by the following News Media:

KHHO radio AM 850, Tacoma, Washington

KGMI radio AM 790, Bellingham, Washington

KOMO television channel 4 news, Seattle, Washington

Los Angeles Times newspaper, Los Angeles, California

Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper, Seattle, Washington

Tacoma News-Tribune newspaper, Tacoma, Washington

The Sun newspaper, Bremerton, Washington

The Associated Press

Childhood Background Narrative

Shawn has been involved with firearms for over 30 years (since 1968). He was 7 years old when his father, Dewey, a Marine non-commissioned officer (now retired), introduced him to handgun shooting at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Shawn's father had previously served as a drill instructor, and this experience was useful in teaching Shawn the basics of firearms safety and marksmanship.

When Shawn's father returned from Vietnam in 1970, and was subsequently stationed at MCB Camp Pendleton, the family moved to Oceanside, California.

In 1971, Shawn asked, and received permission from Oceanside Unified School District officials, to take a fully functioning 7.62x39mm Chinese Type-56 SKS carbine to school for show-and-tell. The SKS was a war trophy recovered from the Vietnam battlefield where his father earned his Purple Heart. Shawn hand-carried the SKS to/from San Luis Rey Elementary School by himself, and stored it in the coat closet of his fourth grade classroom. During his show-and-tell presentation he read aloud a short description about the rifle that his father had written for him, and he deployed the spike bayonet for his classmates to see.

A year or so later, Shawn got his first rifle, a Savage .22 rimfire single-shot, as a Christmas gift from Santa. He and his father frequently went target shooting at the Oceanside Police Department outdoor shooting range. After Shawn earned his NRA Hunter's Safety certificate, he and his father enjoyed hunting small game together.

Shawn was fortunate to grow-up in an area with lots of open space where he could shoot his slingshots and BB guns without getting into too much trouble. He frequently hunted bullfrogs and fished for crawdads with his buddies along the San Luis Rey river. He instigated and participated in many rock and dirt-clod battles with other kids in the neighborhood.

In 1976, his family moved to Show Low, Arizona where there was even more open space to shoot, hunt and fish. In 1978, Shawn enlisted in the United States Navy.

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