Colonel Michael Dawson joined Defence Forces Ireland in 1980 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on the 4^th April 1982. Col. Dawson joins UNDOF as Chief of Staff drawing on years of both command and staff experience, his most recent posting in Ireland being that of Director of Infantry and Commandant of the Irish Defence Forces Military College. He has wide ranging experience at home and abroad. These appointments include; Officer Commanding 27^th Infantry Battalion on the republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland border, Officer in Charge of Defence Forces Public Relations, Director of the Infantry Corps and Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support).

Col Dawson has served overseas on five (5) occasions with early career appointments as Infantry Platoon Commander UNIFIL, Weapons Platoon Commander UNIFIL and UN Military Observer with UNTSO which included an 18 month secondment to UNDOF as MC to the FC. In recent years Col Dawson has served as Operations Staff Officer in ISAF HQ Afghanistan and Deputy Chairperson of the EU Military Committee Working Group- EU Military Staff.

Col. Dawson has an extensive educational background, both military and civilian. Following his commissioning from the Cadet School he completed an undergraduate degree in Physical Education and went on in recent years achieve a First Class Honors Masters in International Relations from Dublin City University. On the military academic side Col Dawson is a graduate of the Bundeswehr Command & Staff School, Germany and also holds a Level 10 Certificate in Strategic Leadership from the National University of Ireland Maynooth,

Col Dawson lives in Newbridge, Co. Kildare with his wife Avril and they have two children Ben and Amy both in University. Col Dawson has a keen interest in sport and can be engaged in conversation about his favorite teams, Chelsea in soccer and Munster in Rugby.