TROY – Major General Mark Bowen, adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard, will provide the commencement address at Troy University Dec. 9.

Commencement will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Sartain Hall. About 350 students are expected to receive diplomas during the ceremonies.

Bowen was appointed to the Guard’s top post in 2003 by Gov. Bob Riley, after having served for 44 years. He joined the Alabama Guard at age 16 and spent six years as an enlisted man before being commissioned when he completed the Alabama Military Academy in April 1962. His early assignments were in transportation, engineer and infantry units. During his career, he served as commander of an engineer company, transportation battalion, mechanized infantry battalion and ordnance group, as well as a number of key staff positions. 

In 1989, he was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as Deputy Commanding General, 167th Support Command in Birmingham.  In June 1991, he was assigned to the 31st Separate Armored Brigade in Northport as commander.  Four years later, he was promoted to major general and assigned as Commander, 62nd Troop Command in Montgomery, where he served until August 1997.  His last assignment before his initial retirement was as Commanding General of the 167th Logistical Support Command in Birmingham until his retirement in June 2000.  He returned to the Alabama Guard in January 2003 in his present assignment as Adjutant General.

In civilian life, Bowen is an Auburn pharmacy graduate and has owned and operated two pharmacies prior to his retirement. Married to the former Sandra Evans, Bowen continues to operate a farm near Lineville.