Major John Dobson

Joint Effects, Programmes Directorate British Army

Maj Dobson commissioned into the British Army in 2005 and his first role was a troop commander in a close support regiment. During his time there he deployed on two tours of Afghanistan in role and as a platoon commander at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy. Following a year as a platoon commander at the Army Foundation College (Harrogate), he completed a third tour of Afghanistan as a fire support team commander in 2011/12. After completing the Instructor Gunnery Course in 2013, Major Dobson was posted as the Instructor Gunnery to the Royal Artillery Young Officers’ Course. Following promotion to Major in 2014 and after 8 months at Staff College he was posted to the Battlefield Coordination Detachment (Air). He assumed the role of battery commander of an armoured close support sub-unit in 2017, completing exercises in Canada and Oman in support of an infantry battlegroup. Maj Dobson then took over the role of programme manager for the Close Support Fires Programme in the Capability Directorate. In 2021 he returned to the Royal School of Artillery as the Senior Instructor of the Joint Fires Branch. Maj Dobson assumed his current role as a Project Manager in the Programmes Directorate in August 2023. He is married to Ritu and is honoured to be the dad of two school-age children and a cocker spaniel.