Ex-Whitefish man ends distinguished military career

U.S. Navy Capt. John A. Dollan was honored during a retirement ceremony at Fort Gordon in May after 25 years of service.

Formerly of Whitefish, Dollan started his Navy career by joining the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps while studying political science at the University of New Mexico.

Over the next two and a half decades, Dollan made his way from ensign up to chief of Information Operations, Cyber Division, reporting to the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence at the Pentagon.

Dollan may be retired from the Navy, but that doesn't mean he's slowing down.

"I was joking with some friends at the office the other day that I was home only six days [this] month," Dollan said. He's now working for a company based in Oklahoma, doing a lot of the same things he used to do in the Navy.

That means working to develop new sensors and technologies for unmanned aerial vehicles and new ways to bolster computer network defense and cyber intelligence capabilities.

Another project aims to find new ways to improve national emergency response capabilities by using widely available commercial technologies such as smart phones.

"That's one of my bigger projects, trying to leverage what we've got to make more use of it. You could significantly reduce costs by looking at new, innovative ways to use technology," Dollan said.

Dollan is the son of Helen Dollan, formerly of Whitefish and now of Kalispell, and the late Jack Dollan. He still makes his home in Augusta, but said he tries to make it back to the Flathead Valley at least once a year.

"I try to hit Big Mountain to do some snowshoeing and backpacking and see a lot of old friends from Whitefish High School," he said.

Dollan's naval career took him around the globe. Some of his assignments included:

• Director support officer on the USS Leftwich in support of Operation Ernest Will missions in the Persian Gulf, and outboard officer and assistant operations officer on the USS Jouett, deployed as part of the first battle group to respond to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

• Deputy chief and executive officer at Menwith Hill Station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and chief of operations of Naval Security Group Activity at Fort Gordon.

• Supporting the National Collection Management Cell in Vicenza, Italy, where he was responsible for airborne intelligence collection management and asset allocation for U.S. and Allied operations; and developing and writing the Kosovo Engagement Zone Concept of Operations.

• Force cryptologist at Naval Special Warfare Command and director of intelligence for the U.S. Special Operations Command Center Campaign Support Group.

• Senior program analyst in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

While deployed to Afghanistan from October 2004 to April 2005, Dollan was chief of theater plans for Combined Forces Command and responsible for all U.S. strategic theater plan development and coalition operations integration.

Medals awarded to Dollan include the Bronze Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, two Joint Service Achievement Medals and three Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

Dollan enlisted in the Navy in 1986, planning to serve just four years.

"When I first got in I said I was going four years and out. Then I did one more tour. Well, 26 years later it's like, ‘That went fast,'" he said.

To that end, Dollan said he sees the armed forces as a good launching point for young people, a way for them to build skills, mature, explore what they want to do in life, and even build a career if they want - all while serving their country first and foremost.

"It's really open to how far you can push yourself," Dollan said, "it really sets you up for success and attaining your personal goals."

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.