Judge Dobrovolny served in the United State Navy as a Sonar Technician aboard nuclear ballistic missile submarines, USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) and USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) from 1993 to 1997. Judge Dobrovolny earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Texas A&M University in 2002 and, thereafter, he earned a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 2006. Judge Dobrovolny has maintained a private practice of law in Jacksonville, Cherokee County, Texas since May 2007.