Richard Dolson was born on August 19th, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana. He was raised a Catholic attending a Catholic grade school in Griffith, Indiana. He attended a public high school and earned a full scholarship to Purdue University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

After graduation from Purdue, he was commissioned as an officer in the Navy, and became a navy pilot. Initially Richard joined an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) squadron flying the Navy P-3 Orion during the Vietnam conflict. Later he flew other navy aircraft with other organizations including as a test pilot at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. He also spent much time in an office environment working space-related programs, frequently with an anti-Soviet space-related scenario. Richard spent five years at the Naval Postgraduate School earning a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering in 1975.

Richard retired from the Navy as a Commander in 1986 after 20 years of service and spent the next 24 years working as a civilian contractor, mostly supporting the government. This support was also in space-related programs. He retired fully in 2010.

CDR Richard Dolson's military medals include:
Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal