John Dowling, Policy Director / Vetrepreneur Managing Editor

As policy director and managing editor of Vetrepreneur, John Dowling is integrally involved in communications and outreach services to the association’s membership ranks in addition to the planning and production of the magazine. John has more than 15 years of civilian and military public relations, and journalism experience to assist NaVOBA’s strategic communications efforts.

Before joining NaVOBA, John was the communications specialist for the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development in Pittsburgh for seven years. In this capacity, he was solely responsible for media relations, marketing and communications for a government agency handling millions of dollars in public investment and development in one of the largest urban counties in the United States. He worked for a weekly newspaper in the South Hills of Pittsburgh as a photographer-journalist before accepting the position with Allegheny County.

John has served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 22 years, attaining the rank of major. He has served in a variety of assignments including public affairs detachment commander, aide-de-camp, staff training officer, and battalion operations/executive officer. He has been mobilized two times since Sept. 11, 2001; once to command a public affairs detachment in Bosnia and a year-long stateside deployment at Fort Dix, N.J., with a training support battalion to train National Guard and Army Reserve troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

John earned a B.S. in Sport Management from West Virginia University and a Master of Public Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University (2006). His military education includes the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, Combined Arms Staff Services School, and the Engineer and Adjutant General Officer Advanced Courses. He also graduated with honors from the resident Defense Information School’s Public Affairs Officer Course. John’s military decorations and awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Army Commendation Medal (two awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Superior Unit Award among others.