Colonel (Ret.) Victoria Bowens
Air Force, Outreach and Strategic Engagement Director | Department of Defense
Colonel Bowens (Air Force Retired) has over 30 years of experience in the Human Resources domain spanning across a myriad of human resources and manpower management programs in the areas strategic planning; training and development; program and project management and diversity and inclusion matters.
She has led both military and civilian personnel in over 16 positions in a variety of command and operational positions at Office of the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chief’s of Staff, Air Staff, numerous major commands, squadron and wing levels in and outside of the United States and in support of multiple deployed operations.
Colonel Bowens graduated from the University of Akron, Ohio, and was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer’s Training Corps as a distinguished graduate in 1986, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Management. Other degrees include a Master of Arts Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a master’s degree in military Operational Art and Science from the Air Force’s Air University.
Colonel Bowens’ awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with one service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Korean Defense Service Medal.
Colonel Bowens is a Certified Diversity Professional, John Maxwell Certified Coach and a New Inclusion Quotient Certified Game Changer. She is also a recognized Air Force Human Resources expert having received two Air Force level honors first as the Junior Personnel Manager of the year in 1997 and again as the Senior Personnel Manager of the year in 2002.
In 2018, Colonel was recognized by Wonder Woman Tech as a Black Innovator in STEM + Arts; in 2013, she was selected as the National Association of Professional Women, “Professional Woman of the Year;” recognized as “Worldwide Who’s Who” in the Registry of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs for 2012-2013; and honored as one of the Most Influential in the 2nd Edition of “Who’s Who” Black in Washington, D.C, in 2010.
