Mr. Andersen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Sciences from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1996. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1999.  Mr. Andersen is a Veteran and former Officer in the US Army having served in the South Dakota Army National Guard and United States Air Force from May 1986 to September 2008.  Mr. Andersen joined the Pennington County Public Defender's Office on January 1, 2000.  He is currently assigned to handle felony files.