Chief Master Sgt. Charles E. Bowen is the Command Chief, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina. He advises the commander on matters influencing the readiness, training, education, resiliency, and quality of life of the enlisted force. Further, Chief Bowen is responsible for monitoring compliance with Air National Guard and Air Force standards including those standards governing conduct, performance, appearance, and military education. Chief Bowen maintains as liaison between the wing commander and enlisted force and staff members, and communicates with the wing commander on issues, concerns, and morale of the enlisted force.
Chief Bowen enlisted in the South Carolina Air National Guard in June 1987 and completed Airframe Repair Specialist course at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, in December 1987. Chief Bowen has served in the South Carolina Air National Guard for more than 37 Years. His background includes duties as aircraft structural repair supervisor, fabrication element supervisor, inspection element supervisor and airframe, powerplant general flight chief. He has completed deployments in direct support of operations Desert Shield/Storm, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Spartan Shield, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Noble Eagle. Prior to his current position, the chief was the 169th Maintenance Group Senior Enlisted Leader at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina.
EDUCATION
1987 Airframe Repair Specialist, Chanute Air Force Base, Ill.
1990 Noncommissioned Officer prep course, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., by correspondence
1993 NCO Academy, McEntire JNGB, S.C., by correspondence
1993 Aircraft Battle Damage Repair and Assessment, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1993 Aircraft Battle Damage Repair Technician, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1995 NCO Academy, McGee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2005 USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Dale Carnegie High Impact Presentation Class 1710, Columbia, S.C.
2008 Dale Carnegie Immersion Seminar, Columbia, S.C.
2011 USAF Senior NCO Academy, Maxwell AFB (Gunter Annex), Ala.
2017 Associate of Applied Science, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint PME I, McEntire JNGB, S.C., by correspondence
2022 Air National Guard Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1987 – December 2003, Airframe repair, 169th Maintenance Squadron, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C. (January 1990 – July 1990, Airframe Repair Journeyman, 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Al Kharj Air Base, Saudi Arabia) (February 2003 – October 2003, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Aircraft Structural Repair, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
2. December 2003 – May 2010, Aircraft Structural Repair Supervisor, 169th Maintenance Squadron, JNGB, S.C.
3. May 2010 – April 2015, Fabrication Element Supervisor, 169th Maintenance Squadron, McEntire JNGB, S.C. (May 2010 – July 2010, NCOIC Fabrication Element, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq)
4. April 2015 – December 2017, Inspection Element Supervisor, 169th Maintenance Squadron, McEntire JNGB, S.C. (July 2016 – November 2016, Production Supervisor, 157th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Force Base, Korea)
5. December 2017 – March 2020, A Flight Superintendent, 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
6. March 2020 – July 2023, Equipment Maintenance Flight Superintendent, 169th Maintenance Squadron, McEntire JNGB, S.C. (April 2021 – August 2021, Superintendent, 157th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron, Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia)
7. August 2023 – January 2025, Senior Enlisted Leader, 169th Maintenance Group, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
8. February 2025 – Present, 169th Fighter Wing Command Chief, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with nine oak leaf clusters
Air Force Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and two oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass and four “M” devices
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 South Carolina Air National Guard Outstanding Guardsman of the year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic June 25, 1987
Airman February 1, 1988
Airman First Class November 1, 1988
Senior Airman May 1, 1989
Staff Sergeant April 1, 1992
Technical Sergeant February 1, 1997
Master Sergeant February 1, 2004
Senior Master Sergeant January 1, 2011
Chief Master Sergeant April 1, 2020
(Current as of December 2024)