Since Commander William H. Dawson first took the oath at the United States Naval Academy in 1958, he has been a hard working and devoted man. He has held many assignment and duties before joining the USS Brewton in October 1975, such as Assistant Navigator, First Division Officer, Operations Officer, Instructor at the United States Naval Academy, Weapons Officer, assignment to Chief of Naval Personnel, Executive Officer, Staff Operations Officer and assignement to Chief of Naval Operations. Commander Dawson has a Master of Arts Degree in Personnel Administration from the George Washington University.

Commander Dawson is accompanied in Pearl Harbor by his wife Connie Ann and their three sons, Robert, Patrick, and Douglas.