He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1957-77 (active duty, 1959–62).

He was assistant dean of the Community College of Philadelphia from 1966 to 1970, and a high school principal from 1970 to 1972.

[3] Dougherty was elected in 1978 and reelected in 1980 as a Republican to the 96th and 97th United States Congresses.

In 1978, he defeated Joshua Eilberg who was indicted on charges for money he took while arranging a $14.5 million Federal grant to a Philadelphia hospital.

[citation needed] To date, Dougherty is the last Republican to represent a Philadelphia-based district in Congress.