Frank "Skip" Bowman

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Frank "Skip" Bowman was born on 19 December 1944 in Chattanooga, TN.

Bowman graduated from Duke University in 1966. He received a Master's Degree in Nuclear Engineering and Naval Architecture/Marine Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Duke University in 2003.

Before his tours in command, Bowman served aboard USS Simon Bolivar, USS Pogy, USS Daniel Boone, and USS Bremerton.

He served as Commanding Officer for both the USS City of Corpus Christi and the USS Holland.

Admiral Bowman received his first star in 1991. His service as a Flag Officer included tours as Deputy Director of Operations on the Joint Staff (J-3) until June 1992; Director for Political-Military Affairs (J-5) until July 1994; and Chief of Naval Personnel from July 1994 to September 1996.

The third successor to Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, Admiral Bowman assumed duties as Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion, on 27 September 1996. He received the four-star rank of Admiral on 1 October 1996. As Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, he was also Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors in the National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.

Admiral Bowman retired from the U.S. Navy in December 2004.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4 Awards)
Officer de l'Ordre National du Mérite (France)

Under his command, his crews have earned:

Meritorious Unit Commendation (3 Awards)
Navy Battle Efficiency E Ribbon (5 Awards)
Navy Expeditionary Medal (2 Awards)
Humanitarian Service Medal (2 Awards)
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3 Awards)
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon

Honors

• In 2005, The C.J. Mack Family Foundation provided an endowment arranged by John J. Mack to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation to support the Admiral Frank Bowman Scholar Program.

• In 2006, Admiral Bowman was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

In Retirement

He was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) in February 2005 and resigned on 14 November 2008.