Newly promoted China Lake leader grew up in Barstow

One popular reason for joining the United States Navy is to be able to travel. For Capt. Jeffrey Dodson, his career in the Navy has taken him all over the world — taking off in F-14 Tomcats from aircraft carriers in the Arabian Gulf and flying with fellow Top Gun fighter pilots — but most recently it’s brought the Barstow native back to the High Desert.

Dodson, who began his military career in 1985 as a naval aviator, was recently installed as the new commanding officer of the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake near Ridgecrest about 80 miles northwest of Barstow. As head of the installation, Dodson will oversee the main land range and weapons development laboratory for the U.S. Department of the Navy.

The 48-year-old grew up in a house on 1509 De Anza Street in Barstow for 10 years. The youngest of three children, Dodson was born in Santa Barbara but moved to Barstow in 1962 when his father got a defense contracting job at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex working with the Apollo programs.

“That was pretty exciting times,” said Dodson, recalling how his father brought home patches and coins commemorating the Apollo mission from his travels. His mother worked for the California Highway Patrol.

As a student, Dodson attended Crestline Elementary School. Because his house was “right on the edge of the desert,” as a child Dodson grew a love for exploring desert wildlife and brought home desert tortoises, lizards and toads. Once at school, he brought a snake — not a poisonous one, he noted — into the classroom “which my teacher did not appreciate,” he recalled with a laugh.

His family moved to Washington, D.C., in the early 1970s, but Dodson said he’s glad to be back in the High Desert.

“I love it in this part of the world,” Dodson said, noting that his favorite hobbies include mountain biking and motocross.

“This is the place to do it,” he said.

Since embarking on his naval career, Dodson has served as an instructor for the elite Top Gun flight course, been deployed to Kuwait during Desert Shield and served in the early years of the Iraq war onboard the USS Harry S. Truman. He has also spent time in Bosnia and Japan, and most recently moved to Ridgecrest from Norfolk, Va.
Dodson took over China Lake as former commanding officer Capt. Gary Peterson retired after 27 years in the military. Dodson is married to wife Tracy and has a 22-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com