Commander Dowling hails from Melbourne Beach, Florida.
He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1983 and attended Basic Training and Hospital Corpsman A School in Great  Lakes, Illinois.  He attended 2nd Class Diver and Diving Medical Technician Training in 1985 and served in USS RECLAIMER in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii from 1986 to 1991   In 1991 he was promoted to Chief Hospital Corpsman, and in 1992 selected to participate in the Enlisted Educational Advancement and later Enlisted Commissioning Programs. 
He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Biology and Chemistry, and a graduate of the Naval War College with a Masters Degree in Military Strategy and Policy.   After earning his degree, CDR Dowling attended Surface Warfare Officer and Diesel Plant Engineering Training and was the recipient of the school’s prestigious Arleigh Burke Award. 
In 1996 he received orders to Mine Countermeasures Rotational Crew GOLF and served as the Operations Officer in USS WARRIOR home-ported in Ingleside, Texas, and in USS DEXTROUS forward deployed in the Fifth Fleet.  
CDR Dowling graduated from Navy School Explosive Ordnance Disposal in 2000 and received orders to EOD Mobile Unit ELEVEN serving as the Officer-in-Charge of EOD Detachment 1/5 and Commander EOD Task Unit in Commander Carrier Group THREE in charge of afloat EOD forces supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  CDR Dowling later served as Operations Officer in EODMU ELEVEN responsible for the deployment and operational readiness of 6 sea and 3 shore EOD detachments completing 21 deployments, regional and fleet tasking requirements and supported Civilian and Federal Law Enforcement.   
In 2004, CDR Dowling reported to Carrier Strike Group FIVE as Force Protection and Physical Security Officer for the Kitty Hawk Strike Force.  During his assignment he worked with regional assets to secure force protection in support of over 300 ship visits to 20 countries throughout the Seventh Fleet.  He also deployed with the 3rd Marine Division as a Navy Liaison Officer in Combined Support Group Indonesia providing humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami. 
CDR Dowling served as the Executive Officer in Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii from 2005 through 2007 and was responsible for the optimization, expansion and integration of diving detachments in support of fleet and contingency operations.  He also completed an assignment as Officer-in-Charge Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell conducting site exploitation and post blast investigation  for Counter IED Operations throughout Iraq. 
CDR Dowling’s most recent assignment was at United States Central Command where he served as Branch Chief for Asymmetric Warfare equipping  U.S. and Coalition EOD forces and developing EOD plans and policy.
CDR Dowling’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense and Navy Meritorious Commendation Medals, Joint and Navy Commendation and Achievement Medals and various unit and campaign awards.  He is authorized to wear the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Naval Parachutist, and Diving Officer breast insignias. 
He has two children, Ian Christopher age 13, and Briana Leigh age 9, who reside in Corpus Christi, Texas.