About Shannon Dillon

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Shannon Dillon was born on November 16, 1971, in Dallas, Texas to Dr. Dale and Karol Stansbury.  In 1974, her family moved to Northern Virginia where Dillon attended Fairfax County Public Schools.  As a student–athlete, she competed on the varsity high school gymnastics team and varsity cheerleader squad.  After graduating high school, Dillon attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia graduating Magna Cum Laude.  Upon graduating from ODU, she attended The Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee, Florida where she earned her Juris Doctorate.  After law school she began her active-duty career in the United States Navy.

She was commissioned as an Ensign in November 1999 while in law school, and in 2001 attended the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island.  As a Navy JAG Officer, she served as a prosecutor in the Navy’s largest trial service office in Norfolk, Va.  During her time as prosecutor, she amassed an impressive record of having lost only one (1) case during her tenure. In the fall of 2002, in preparation for the U.S. invasion into Iraq, Dillon was selected as the “Battle JAG” for the Expeditionary Strike Group, Task Force 51.  In this role she served as the senior legal advisor, to the Admiral and the Commodore on all rules of engagement from sea to shore.  After leaving active duty, she remained in the Naval Reserves until 2011, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  

Following this assignment, she was appointed as Special Assistant United States Attorney in Norfolk, Virginia prosecuting over 1000 cases a year while managing five (5) misdemeanor dockets per month for the largest naval shore installation, including other area military installations.  Dillon prosecuted all aspects of felony cases from grand jury indictment through sentencing including DUI, maiming, extortion, bomb threats, bank robbery, fraud, and larceny cases.  She conducted monthly probation revocation hearings and coordinated with probation officers as required. Furthermore, she worked closely with the federal judiciary in designing and implementing a Misdemeanor Continuation and Overflow docket, and collaborated on the inception of a DUI Initial Appearance docket.  Finally, she personally administered regular training to over 700 base police officers on matters pertaining to search/seizure, interrogation, evidence and trial preparation, as well as mentoring other SAUSAs.

In the summer of 2005, after her first child was born, Shannon left active duty to join her husband, Brendhan, a Marine Corps Officer stationed in Yuma, Arizona.  While in Arizona, she managed a private legal practice specializing in military defense and administrative proceedings.  In 2007 the Dillon family relocated to Henrico County where she began serving the people of Henrico as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney.  After leaving the Commonwealth’s Office, she continued to serve the people of Henrico County, excelling in her own private law practice specializing in state, federal and military defense that saw steady growth and success over the last 15 years.  Shannon and her husband have been married 20 years and together they share a daughter, who is a pre-med student at the University of Tennessee and a son who is a senior at Deep Run High School.  

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Dillon is a staunch supporter of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment, law enforcement, veterans and their families.  As a wife, a mother, a veteran she truly understands the personal sacrifices made by service members, law enforcement and the incredible hardship their families endure.  As a Henrico County resident, Dillon understands that the people of Henrico County want to feel safe and secure in their homes, in their schools and on the streets where they live.