Chattanooga native Retired Admiral Frank L. “Skip” Bowman is a 2021 recipient of the Naval Submarine League’s Distinguished Submariner Award for lifetime service and achievement.
Mr. Bowman, who graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1962, is one of fewer than 280 four-star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy. He was the third successor to the legendary Admiral Hyman G. Rickover as director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
During his 38-year naval career, he championed nuclear safety, procedural compliance, environmental stewardship, forceful backup and technical excellence.
A graduate of Duke University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he commanded the nuclear submarine USS City of Corpus Christi and the submarine tender USS Holland.
His last active duty assignment was as director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, a position he held for more than eight years.
Admiral Bowman was responsible for two Department of Energy laboratories, four Navy training sites and the operations of more than 100 reactors aboard U.S.
Navy submarines and aircraft carriers.
He retired from the Navy in 2004 and became president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute. He currently serves as president of Strategic Decisions, LLC.
Mr. Bowman has received many civilian awards, including an award for contributions on radiation health, an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Duke University and an award as an Honorary Knight Commander from the Queen of England.
He has served on the boards of multiple associations and continues to advise organizations on national security issues.
The award was presented on Saturday at the Naval Submarine League Annual Symposium and Industry Update in Arlington, Va. Founded in 1982, the Naval Submarine League is dedicated to promoting awareness of the importance of submarines to U.S. national security.
Mr. Bowman is married to the former Linda Rich, also a 1962 graduate of Chattanooga High School. They have two children and six grandchildren. The Bowmans reside in Maryland.