John Dowd - Newburgh, NY

John was born and raised in the Bronx NY. He began his professional life in law enforcement when he joined the United States Army in 1972. John was initially assigned as a Military Policeman to the US Army Military Police Corps 519th Brigade at Fort Meade, Maryland for riot control duty in Washington DC. He was later assigned to the AWOL Apprehension Field Office, Philadelphia, PA where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and later awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.

After his Honorable Discharge from military service he joined the City of White Plains NY Police Department. as a Police Officer. John then served in the Village of Scarsdale Police Department, where he was awarded several commendations including the Exceptional Duty Medal. John also managed the Police Department's National and NY State Accreditation Program. He retired in 1998 with the rank of Sergeant.

John graduated Manhattan College with a B.S. in General Studies, cum laude in May 1988. He was on the Dean's list and a member of Manhattan College's Epsilon Pi Honor Society, the National Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Lambda and NY State Regent's Scholarship.

He then attended Pace University School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in May 1992. There his honors included Ranking Scholar, spring 1990 and fall 1991 and Pace University School of Law's Trustees Merit Scholarship for four years. He passed the New York and Connecticut Bar Exams in 1992 and is admitted to practice law in New York, Connecticut, the United States Southern District of New York and the Court of Appeal for Veterans Claims.

John joined Finkelstein & Partners in 1998 immediately after his retirement and has overseen and managed numerous personal injury cases including several $1,000,000 cases. In 2008 he became the Managing Attorney of the Finkelstein & Partners Veterans Services Group. John has been accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to represent veterans from all states. He has attended seminars held by the National Organization of Veterans Advocates in San Francisco in 2008 and in Washington DC in 2010. He also received training from the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program in Washington DC in 2008 and has since represented numerous homeless veterans. By desire, John's practice is now limited exclusively to representing his fellow veterans before the VA so that they may obtain all the benefits that they truly deserve.

John has been married to his wife, Denise, since 1983. They have two children, Meghan and Brendan. Meghan graduated from Cornell University in 2009 and Brendan is a Junior at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

John holds memberships in the American Legion, Ancient Order of Hibernians (USA), The Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. the, Knights of Columbus and the Police Emerald Society of Westchester County.

John now enjoys sailing, golfing and vacationing at his cottage in the County Kerry, Ireland.