Andrew R. Damgaard was born in Moorhead, Minnesota on July 12, 1977, but grew up most of his life in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in History from the University of South Dakota in 2001. He then attended the University of South Dakota School of Law and received his law degree in 2005 graduating in the top 5% of his class and earning the distinction of Sterling Honor Graduate.
During law school, Andrew received several awards in recognition of his outstanding academic performance. He was a member of the Moot Court Board and participated in four Moot Court competitions. Upon graduation, Andrew clerked for the honorable Richard W. Sabers of the South Dakota Supreme Court. He then accepted a position as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, defending the United States against civil lawsuits and prosecuting false claims. In July of 2007, Andrew joined Governor William J. Janklow in founding the Janklow Law Firm in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he practiced law for over eight years until the firm merged to create Johnson Janklow Abdallah, LLP.