He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Brigham Young University in 1984.

[1][2] After graduating from college, Dinkelman began his career in the private sector.

He eventually joined the United States Foreign Service, and was first stationed in Turkey.

[3] Dinkelman served as Chief of Staff in the Bureau of Administration starting in July 2018.

His most recent overseas assignment was as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas.