James Dowell joined the Marine Corps in 1990 after witnessing marines saluting the president in government class one day. As a weapons guard at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Dowell enjoyed “the structure” of the military. His most memorable experience is helping Cuban immigrants travelling by sea migrate to the U.S.
Dowell left the military in 1995 to be closer to his family and began his career as an elevator mechanic. He later came to UVA and currently serves as an elevator maintenance supervisor. Dowell describes “the discipline” as the most useful aspect of the military for his career now. “Being a supervisor is a little different, I can’t treat people here like we’re in the Marnie Corps but the discipline and expecting things a certain way” are the most applicable facets of the military James carries forward into his current career. Dowell also says, “the military has taught [him] that [he] can do anything, no matter the situation.” At UVA, he deals with tough elevator repair jobs which he is able to tackle with determination. In 2011, James Dowell won the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contribution Award for helping a wheelchair-bound student back into her room on his day off after an elevator in a first-year residence hall broke down.