Michael L. Dodson (born November 16, 1945) is a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 67th district. His term began January 11, 2021 upon the retirement of his predecessor Tom Phillips.
Mike Dodson | |
|---|---|
_Michael_L._Dodson.jpg) | |
| Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 67th district | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Phillips |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Lee Dodson November 16, 1945 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Diane W. Dodson |
| Residence | Manhattan, Kansas |
| Alma mater | Kansas State University (M.S.) National War College (diploma) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (certificate) Center for Creative Leadership (certificate) United States Army Command and General Staff College (diploma) Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course (diploma)[1] |
| Profession | construction consultant |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina Fort Riley, Kansas III Corps Artillery 1st Infantry Division Artillery 3rd Battalion, 16th FA C Battery, 2nd Bn, 1st FA |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Gulf War |
Dodson was elected to two full terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, defeating Democrats Cheryl Arthur and Kim Zito in 2020 and 2022 respectively.[2]
Dodson is a general manager for Bechtel, the largest construction company in the United States. He is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and had previous political experience as a city commissioner and mayor of Manhattan, Kansas (2015-2018). On May 23, 2024, Dodson announced he would not seek re-election to the Kansas House. [3]
Committee membership
editDodson serves on four legislative committees in 2024:
- Elections
- Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
- Insurance
- Financial Institutions and Pensions
Early life and education
editMichael Lee Dodson was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where his mother was staying with his aunt's family while his father was serving as a bomber pilot with the Army Air Forces. After his father was discharged from World War II service, they moved back to Colville, Washington. Dodson graduated from Colville High School and then enrolled at the University of Washington. He enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War and was commissioned as a field artillery officer in 1968. Dodson later earned an M.S. degree in operations research and systems analysis from Kansas State University. He is also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College.[4][5][6]
Military career
editDodson received fixed-wing and rotary flight training at Fort Rucker in Alabama. He was deployed to Vietnam twice, first with the 334th Armored Helicopter Company and then with the 2nd Battalion, 20th Aerial Rocket Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division.[5][6]
In peacetime, Dodson commanded C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment and then 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment in Baumholder, West Germany. During Operation Desert Storm, he commanded the 1st Infantry Division Artillery. Dodson later served as commanding general of the III Corps Artillery at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and then of Fort Riley in Kansas.[4][5][6][7]
As a lieutenant general, he served as commander of the Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina from September 8, 2000, to September 7, 2001, and then as deputy commander of U.S. Army Europe and the Seventh Army from September 17, 2001, to November 4, 2003.[6][7][8]
Dodson's military decorations include two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, two Army Distinguished Service Medals, a Silver Star Medal, a Defense Superior Service Medal, four awards of the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Bronze Star Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals and forty-five Air Medals.[4][6]
Personal
editDodson is the son of Tom Dodson and Shirley Elizabeth (Wylie) Dodson (January 12, 1925 – September 19, 2014). They were married on January 12, 1945, in Pullman, Washington. Dodson has a brother and a sister.[5][9]
Dodson is married to Diane Dodson and they have three adult children.[6]
References
edit- ^ https://mikedodson.org/resume/ Mike Dodson Kansas House resume
- ^ Ballotpedia election results
- ^ Peoples, Brandon (2024-05-23). "Dodson announces he won't seek re-election to Kansas House". News Radio KMAN. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ a b c "Lieutenant General Michael L. Dodson". NATO Stabilisation Force. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Tattoo of LTG Michael L. Dodson US Army, Retired". United States Field Artillery Association. 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "State Representative Mike Dodson". New Politics. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Galvin, Thomas P. (March 2019). "Two Case Studies of Successful Strategic Communications Campaigns" (PDF). U.S. Army War College. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Peter (September 19, 2001). "A new beginning". SFOR Informer. No. 122. NATO Stabilisation Force. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Shirley Dodson". The Statesman Examiner. Colville, Washington. Retrieved October 18, 2021.