Col Karen E. Bowman is the Commander, 62d Medical Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Air Force Base, Washington. She is responsible for overseeing all Air Force Medical capabilities in support of the 62d Airlift Wing in executing rapid global mobility. Her unit, encompassing the Warrior and Operational Medicine Clinic, Base Operational Medicine Clinic, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Dental, Flight Medicine, Health Promotions, Optometry, and Public Health, works with U.S. Army counterparts to ensure the readiness of over 3,500 Airmen. In addition to being the commander of the 62d Medical Squadron, Colonel Bowman also serves as part of the Puget Sound Market under the Defense Health Agency.
Col Bowman graduated from Yale University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Since completing a residency in Pediatrics in 2000 at Emory University, she has worked as an Urgent Care provider for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and as a pediatrician for the International Pediatrics Clinic in Atlanta, Ga. Upon joining the military in 2010, she was a staff clinician at the United States Air Force Academy and then Medical Director in 2012. In 2013 she was competitively selected to become the Medical Corps Force Management Fellow. Prior to this assignment, she served as the 18th Healthcare Operations Squadron Commander, Kadena Air Base, Japan. She led 93 active duty and civilian personnel in the delivery of primary care, subspecialty, emergency, and critical care services in support of military treatment facilities throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The unique capabilities of this squadron include neonatal transport provided by the second largest neonatal intensive care in the Air Force and the Developmental and Behavioral Family Resource Center delivering direct care to the Western Pacific region.
Colonel Bowman was also assigned to the 59th Medical Group, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. As the Primary Care Department Chair and the Pediatric Medical Director, she was responsible for the direction and oversight of three primary care clinics the Family Emergency Center and the Air Force’s largest pediatric department with 54 staff members and 43 Graduate Medical Education residents.
As a board-certified pediatrician at Patrick AFB, she served as the Family Health Flight Commander and as the Deputy, Chief of the Medical Staff, providing assistance in overseeing the care of over 15,000 patients, including active-duty service members, retirees, and their families. During her assignment as Chief of the Medical Staff, F.E. Warren AFB, she oversaw the care provided by 8 clinics with 38 providers in 13 specialties. She directed medical policy and set strategic direction as an executive staff member.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
1997 Doctor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, N.Y.
2000 Graduate, Pediatric Residency, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
2014 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2018 Medical Incident Investigation Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2023 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Sep 2010–June 2012 Pediatrician, 10th Medical Squadron, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. June 2012–June 2013 Medical Director, Pediatrics, 10th Medical Squadron, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
3. July 2013–June 2014 Medical Corps Force Management Fellow, Air Force Element, Defense Health Headquarters, Virginia
4. July 2014–December 2015 Chief of the Medical Staff, F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyo.
5. January 2016–June 2018 Family Health Flight Commander, 45th Medical Operations Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla.
6. June 2018–June 2021 Department Chair, Primary Care & Pediatrics, 59th Medical Group, Lackland AFB, Texas
7. June 2021–June 2023 Commander, 18th Healthcare Operations Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2023– Present, Commander, 62d Medical Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Air Force Base, Wash., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Global Strike Command Chief of the Medical Staff Commitment to Excellence Award
CURRENT NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
2018 American Board of Pediatrics
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2012
Colonel July 1, 2018
(Current as of June 2023)