Inductee Details
< BackHarold Gardiner Bowen, Sr.
(1883-1965) ~ Inducted 1992Vice Admiral Bowen was a born in Providence on November 6, 1883. He was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (class of 1905) and commissioned in 1907. Bowen recieved an M.A. from Columbia University in 1914 and served as Assistant Chief, and later Chief of the Bureau of Engineers from 1931-1939. Bowen was made Rear Admiral in June 1938.
Bowen served as the director of the Naval Research Laboratory from 1939-1942. Following that time, he became the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary in 1942. He was promoted to Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, a job which he held until his retirement in June 1947. Bowen was named Vice Admiral in July 1946. Retired in June 1947. He was a pioneer in research in the development of radar, jet propulsion rockets and numerous techniques which were directly under the supervision of the Secretary of the Navy. Due to the secret nature of this work, he recieved many awards such as the Distinguished Service Medal, the Victory Medal, the Silver Star, and the Newcomen Medal. Vice Admiral Bowen died on August 1, 1965 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. A son by the same name also became Vice Admiral for the U.S. Navy.
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