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Charles (Skip) W. Bowen
Encyclopedia
Charles "Skip" W. Bowen was the tenth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
(MCPOCG). He assumed the position from MCPOCG Frank A. Welch
on June 14, 2006, and was relieved on May 21, 2010 by Michael P. Leavitt
. Bowen was previously assigned as the Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Station Marathon.
at Coast Guard Station Cape May
in Cape May, New Jersey
in 1978, his first duty station was to a patrol boat
, USCGC Point Swift in Clearwater, Florida
. From there he was assigned to Coast Guard Station Marathon in the Florida Keys
just in time for the Mariel boatlift
in 1980. A subsequent assignment at Station Fort Pierce, Florida
, was followed by another patrol boat, this time the newly commissioned USCGC Farallon, homeported in Miami. From south Florida he traveled to the Mid-Atlantic seaboard to join USCGC Point Arena as the Executive Petty Officer. Upon advancing to Chief Petty Officer
he was assigned as the Officer in Charge
of Coast Guard Station New Haven, Connecticut
, in June 1990. Following a successful tour at New Haven, he was transferred to Station Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, Florida
in 1994.
In 1997, Bowen was assigned as the Officer in Charge of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Point Turner in Newport, Rhode Island
, until her decommissioning in April 1998. During May 1998 he was assigned as the Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead, based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
; this cutter was first of the high-tech 87-foot (26.5 m) Patrol Boats on the east coast.
From 1999 to 2001, Bowen served as the Seventh District Command Master Chief. In May 2002, Bowen graduated with distinction from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy
. While at the Academy, he was selected as one of the few non-Army students ever to serve as a class vice president. Upon graduation, he was awarded the prestigious "William G. Bainbridge
Chair of Ethics Award." From June 2002 to June 2004, Bowen served as the Command Master Chief of the Headquarters' Units. In addition to those duties, he also served as the Interim Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from July 2002 through October 2002.
8 Service Stripes
.
and a Master of Business Administration summa cum laude from Touro University International
. Bowen is married to Janet Kay Bowen (née Cartwright) of Norfolk, Virginia
. He has four children, Mason, Joshua, Joseph, and Kristen. His son, Mason, is currently on active duty in the Coast Guard.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Coast Guard.The holder of this rank and post is the senior enlisted member of the U.S...
(MCPOCG). He assumed the position from MCPOCG Frank A. Welch
Frank A. Welch
Franklin A. Welch was the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Coast Guard. A former Master Chief Quartermaster, he served in office from October 10, 2002 to June 14, 2006, and served in the Coast Guard for over 25 years....
on June 14, 2006, and was relieved on May 21, 2010 by Michael P. Leavitt
Michael P. Leavitt
Michael Phillip Leavitt is the eleventh and current Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard , assuming the position from MCPOCG Charles W. Bowen on May 21, 2010...
. Bowen was previously assigned as the Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Station Marathon.
Coast Guard Career
After attending basic trainingBasic Training
Basic Training may refer to:* Basic Training, a 1971 American documentary directed by Frederick Wiseman* Basic Training , an American sex comedy* Recruit training...
at Coast Guard Station Cape May
United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May is the home of the Coast Guard enlisted corps and is the Coast Guard's only enlisted accession point and recruit training center. It is located on 1 Munro Avenue, Cape May, New Jersey....
in Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
in 1978, his first duty station was to a patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
, USCGC Point Swift in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
. From there he was assigned to Coast Guard Station Marathon in the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
just in time for the Mariel boatlift
Mariel boatlift
The Mariel boatlift was a mass emigration of Cubans who departed from Cuba's Mariel Harbor for the United States between April 15 and October 31, 1980....
in 1980. A subsequent assignment at Station Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
, was followed by another patrol boat, this time the newly commissioned USCGC Farallon, homeported in Miami. From south Florida he traveled to the Mid-Atlantic seaboard to join USCGC Point Arena as the Executive Petty Officer. Upon advancing to Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
he was assigned as the Officer in Charge
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge
The designation Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, usually abbreviated to NCOIC , signifies an individual in the enlisted ranks of a military unit who has limited command authority over others in the unit....
of Coast Guard Station New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, in June 1990. Following a successful tour at New Haven, he was transferred to Station Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
in 1994.
In 1997, Bowen was assigned as the Officer in Charge of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Point Turner in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, until her decommissioning in April 1998. During May 1998 he was assigned as the Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead, based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole is a census-designated place in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands...
; this cutter was first of the high-tech 87-foot (26.5 m) Patrol Boats on the east coast.
From 1999 to 2001, Bowen served as the Seventh District Command Master Chief. In May 2002, Bowen graduated with distinction from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy
United States Army Sergeants Major Academy
The United States Army Sergeants Major Academy was established on July 1, 1972 at Fort Bliss, Texas, and began instruction in January 1973. Its curriculum is designed to broaden the student's current knowledge base...
. While at the Academy, he was selected as one of the few non-Army students ever to serve as a class vice president. Upon graduation, he was awarded the prestigious "William G. Bainbridge
William G. Bainbridge
William G. Bainbridge was the fifth Sergeant Major of the Army, was sworn in on July 1, 1975 and served until June, 1979. He was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on April 17, 1925 and died on November 29, 2008....
Chair of Ethics Award." From June 2002 to June 2004, Bowen served as the Command Master Chief of the Headquarters' Units. In addition to those duties, he also served as the Interim Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from July 2002 through October 2002.
Awards and decorations
| Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was created in August 1949 by order of the United States Congress. Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.The Coast Guard... |
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| Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (United States) The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969... with 3 gold award star Award star An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force... s and "O" device Operational Distinguishing Device The Operational Distinguishing Device is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which may be awarded as an attachment to certain personal and unit awards. The device is awarded as a silver "O" device, either centered on the award ribbon or to the middle-right if there are an even number of... |
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| Coast Guard Commendation Medal with 3 gold award stars and "O" device Operational Distinguishing Device The Operational Distinguishing Device is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which may be awarded as an attachment to certain personal and unit awards. The device is awarded as a silver "O" device, either centered on the award ribbon or to the middle-right if there are an even number of... |
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| Coast Guard Achievement Medal with 2 gold award stars and "O" device Operational Distinguishing Device The Operational Distinguishing Device is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which may be awarded as an attachment to certain personal and unit awards. The device is awarded as a silver "O" device, either centered on the award ribbon or to the middle-right if there are an even number of... |
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| Commandant's Letter of Commendation Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon The Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon is the highest personal ribbon award of the United States Coast Guard. The decoration was established in March 1979 by Admiral John B. Hayes.... |
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| Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with "hurricane symbol" | |
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Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award The Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award is a U.S. government unit decoration which was established in 1992.The Presidential Unit Citation and Joint Meritorious Unit Award are considered senior to the Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award... |
| Coast Guard Unit Commendation Coast Guard Unit Commendation The Coast Guard Unit Commendation is the highest peacetime unit award that may be awarded to military commands of the United States Coast Guard. The decoration was first created in 1963 and is presented to members of any Coast Guard unit that distinguishes itself by valorous or extremely... with award star and "O" device Operational Distinguishing Device The Operational Distinguishing Device is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which may be awarded as an attachment to certain personal and unit awards. The device is awarded as a silver "O" device, either centered on the award ribbon or to the middle-right if there are an even number of... |
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| Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with 1 silver and 2 gold award stars and "O" device Operational Distinguishing Device The Operational Distinguishing Device is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which may be awarded as an attachment to certain personal and unit awards. The device is awarded as a silver "O" device, either centered on the award ribbon or to the middle-right if there are an even number of... |
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| Meritorious Team Commendation Meritorious Team Commendation The Meritorious Team Commendation is the second lowest unit award of the United States Coast Guard. Created in December 1993, the Meritorious Team Commendation is awarded to lower echelon Coast Guard commands who perform exceptional actions that would normally warrant a Commandant's Letter of... with silver and gold award star and "O" device Operational Distinguishing Device The Operational Distinguishing Device is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which may be awarded as an attachment to certain personal and unit awards. The device is awarded as a silver "O" device, either centered on the award ribbon or to the middle-right if there are an even number of... |
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Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation The Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation is a commemorative decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was awarded to all active, reserve, auxiliary, and civilian personnel of the Coast Guard for service between the dates of June 4, 1989 and August 4, 1990.The decoration was issued as... |
| Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal with 1 silver and 4 bronze service star Service star A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service... s |
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| National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... with 1 service star |
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Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003... |
| Humanitarian Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under... with service star |
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| Special Operations Service Ribbon Special Operations Service Ribbon The Special Operations Service Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was first created in July 1987 by order of Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Paul A. Yost Jr. The decoration is authorized for certain acts of non-combat meritorious service, performed in the service... with 2 service stars |
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| Sea Service Ribbon Sea Service Ribbon A Sea Service Ribbon is an award of the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and the United States Army which recognizes those service members who have performed military duty while stationed on a vessel at sea.... with 2 service stars |
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Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon A Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon is an award issued by the United States Army and Air Force to recognize those non-commissioned officers who have completed a prescribed leadership course at an NCO training school.-Army:... with award numeral 4 |
| Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal Marksmanship Medal The Marksmanship Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy and the Coast Guard and is the highest award one may receive for weapons qualification... |
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| Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon Marksmanship Device A Marksmanship Device is an award of the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard which is presented as an attachment to the Marksmanship Ribbon. For the Air Force, the addition of a bronze Service Star is used to indicate expert qualification in both rifle and... with silver sharpshooter device |
Cutterman Insignia
Officer-in-Charge Afloat Pin
Officer-in-Charge Ashore PinService stripe
A service stripe, commonly called a hash mark, is a decoration of the United States military which is presented to enlisted members of the U.S. military to denote length of service. The United States Army awards each stripe for three years service, while the United States Navy, United States...
.
Personal
Bowen's educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Science Degree magna cum laude from Excelsior CollegeExcelsior College
Excelsior College is a private, non-profit institution of higher education in Albany, New York. It is a constituent member of The University of the State of New York, and has its own charter and Board of Trustees. Excelsior College offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level...
and a Master of Business Administration summa cum laude from Touro University International
Touro University International
Trident University International , located in Cypress, California, is a for-profit university owned by Summit Partners. All courses are delivered online. Trident University is a former branch campus of Touro College, which was founded in 1970 in New York City, New York...
. Bowen is married to Janet Kay Bowen (née Cartwright) of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. He has four children, Mason, Joshua, Joseph, and Kristen. His son, Mason, is currently on active duty in the Coast Guard.