EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
I was born in the Port City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Republic of Liberia on May 30, 1969 unto the Late Wilfred David Dillon and Madam Hannah Pailey. I completed secondary education from Wells-Hairston High School in Montserrado County in 1989. On a scholarship grant awarded by the Indian Government in 2006, I obtained a Certificate in the Courses of Parliamentary Procedure and Legislative Drafting from Lok Sahba Secretariat in New Delhi, India. “Lok Sahba” means “House of the People” or House of Representatives”. 2012 to 2014, I pursued undergraduate studies at the Strayer University in the United States of America, with Concentration in Legal Studies before returning home uncompleted.
FAMILY/MARITAL
I am Christian and happily married to Mrs. Sedia Hawa Dillon. Our union which started in 1990 and still holds to date, is blessed with two beautiful and loving children; a boy, Darius, Jr. and a girl, Dariusetta.
WORK HISTORY/EXPERIENCE
My first employment was with Bridgeway Corporation from 1989 to 1990 where I worked as a Clerical Staff. Thereafter, I worked as Special Assistant to the Solicitor General of Liberia from 1995 to 2006 at the Ministry of Justice. During said period, I served under the direct supervisions of five professional Solicitors and six Ministers of Justice. The experiences gained from each of them are significantly great and worthy. From 2006 to 2007, I was appointed and served as Chief of Staff in the office of the first Speaker of the 52nd Legislature of Liberia. I was again appointed in the Liberian Senate as Chief of Staff to the Senior Senator of Bong County and diligently served in said capacity with efficiency from 2007 to 2011.
SOCIAL, HUMANITARIAN & OTHER ACTIVITIES
I was elected National Executive Board Chairman of the Consortium of Pressure and Interest Groups of Liberia, Incorporated in 2009 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Media United to Enhance Democracy in Liberia. I am a member of “Free Masonry” and a humanitarian who is currently sponsoring a number of deserving and under-privileged students in Liberia, ranging from grade school to college level.
POLITICS, ADVOCACY & AWARDS
I am a politician and civil rights activist who speaks against corruption and other societal injustices and a former Senatorial Candidate for Montserrado County, with a very strong passion advocating for the rights of the underprivileged and voiceless. I have served as Senior Policy Advisor and Deputy Secretary-General of Liberty Party, and currently serve as National Vice Chairman for Political Affairs.
My advocacy has not gone without some fateful events. I was sent to jail for six months in 2008 by the House of Representatives for exposing bribery among some Members of the House. (See the US State Department Human Rights Report on Liberia for detail). However, I challenged my detention before the Supreme Court of Liberia through my lawyers to the effect that my detention was unlawfully done. The Court ruled after five days and ordered my immediate release because it found that I was not accorded the “due process”. On the positive side,
I have won several awards from some credible media and other institutions as well as foreign dignitaries in Liberia and the United States of America as well; few of which are:
1. Legislative Aide of the Year 2008.....INQUIRER Newspaper
2. Advocate of the Year 2008.....The Renaissance Newspaper
3. Outstanding Personality of 2009/2010, St. Paul River District Youth Fellowship of the Liberia Annual Conference United Methodist Church
4. Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator,State of Rhode Island for “Advocacy on behalf of the people of Liberia”….. November 19, 2012
5. Certificate of Accomplishment…. “Dedication and Service to the People of Liberia", November 19, 2012, By Jack Reed, U. S. Senator, State of Rhode Island.
6. Certificate of Congratulations “In recognition of demonstrated commitment to the ideals of Scholarship, Leadership and Service”… awarded by Strayer University’s Chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars…. 2013.
TRAVELS
I have attended and participated in several international conferences or occasions for and on behalf of the Government of Liberia in Namibia, South Africa, The Republic of Qatar and Nigeria; to name a few. I was also a member of Liberia’s official delegation to the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2010 held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA. The Delegation was headed by Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. I have also traveled to Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal, etc.
