2nd Network Battalion
Master Gunnery Sergeant Eddie W. Dowdell III
Master Gunnery Sergeant Dowdell enlisted in the Marine Corps on September of 1998. He graduated as Platoon 1096 Honor Graduate and already a Private First Class. Following graduation from Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, he was attended Basic Supply School in Camp Johnson, North Carolina where he graduated Honor Graduate and meritoriously promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and assigned the MOS of 3043.
Upon graduation Lance Corporal Dowdell was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Lejuene, North Carolina from February 1999 to February 2002. During this time Lance Corporal Dowdell served as the DASF clerk, Platoon Sergeant and Battalion Color Sergeant. Lance Corporal Dowdell was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal in 2000. In February 2002 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and accepted for a lateral move into communications.
Sergeant Dowdell received orders to Small Computer Systems Specialist course in Twenty-nine Palms, California and assigned MOS of 4066 in May 2002. In May of 2002, he was reassigned to MACS 2, MACG 28, 2nd MAW, Cherry Point, North Carolina where he served as Data Chief. In August of 2002, he deployed to Jordan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. In February 2003, he deployed to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. In February 2004, he was reassigned to 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit for deployment to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in July 2004.
In January 2006, Sergeant Dowdell reported to 8th Communication Battalion, II MEF, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for duty as Bravo Company Data Chief. In March 2006, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and deployed to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM for a third time in January of 2007.
In October 2008, Staff Sergeant Dowdell reported to Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Butler, Okinawa, Japan, where he served as Network Operations Chief. During this period SSgt Dowdell assisted the Navy and Marine Corps Internet (NMCI) to Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) transition for all units aboard Okinawa, Japan. In December of 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
In August 2011, Gunnery Sergeant Dowdell reported to 6th Communications Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve, Brooklyn, New York, for duty as Data Chief. During this time, he served as Data Platoon Commander and Operations Chief. During this period Gunnery Sergeant Dowdell participated in several large scale exercises and coordinated the deployment and redeployment of over 100 Marine Reserves in support of Joint Operations in the Middle East.
In February 2015, Gunnery Sergeant Dowdell transferred to Marine Logistics Group Headquarters, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, for duty as Network Operations Chief and promoted to Master Sergeant in March of 2016. In September 2016, Master Sergeant Dowdell was assigned to Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3 where he served as the Regimental Communications Chief. He participated in several large scale exercises on the Korean peninsula and supporting units exercising across the south pacific region.
In June 2018, Master Sergeant Dowdell was assigned to 6th Communications Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve, Brooklyn, New York, where he served as General Support Company Communications Chief. For over three years, he supervised the installation, operation and maintenance of multiple communications exercises and served as Responsible Officer for a $20 million Consolidated Memorandum Receipt. During this tour, he was promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant in February 2022.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Dowdell was assigned to his current unit in August 2022.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Dowdell's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (with gold starts in lie of 2nd award), Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with gold stars in lieu of forth award), and Combat Action Ribbon.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Dowdell has a bachelors degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College.