Henry Austin Dobson, a graduate of the University of Southern California, was born in Los Angeles, California. He served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945. In 1948 he was appointed as a civilian liaison officer for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in the Middle East. In 1951 he returned to California and accepted a position as manager of the Los Angeles City Council's Personnel Department
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In 1959 he joined the University of Southern California's faculty as a professor of public administration. In 1965 he left USC to become director of personnel for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, a position he held until 1971. Since 1971 he has been a consultant for large corporations and government agencies.