Sergeant Major Owens assumed his current post as the Marine Aviation Support Training Group 23 Sergeant Major on August 13, 2020. A native of Brooklyn New York, he attended recruit training at MCRD San Diego CA, in August 1995.
Upon completion, he received training at Marine Combat Training, Camp Pendleton and then went on to Basic Supply Administration School in Camp Johnson, NC where he became a 3043, Supply Administration Clerk. In March 1996, he reported for duty at 3rd Mar Div, H&S Co, Okinawa, Japan where he served as a Supply Clerk.
From April 1997 to October 1999, Lance Corporal Owens was attached to 3rd MAW, MAG 39, Personnel Administrative Support Detachment (PASD), Supply, Camp Pendleton and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. There, he served as the Warehouse Asst. Chief. In November 1999 he was attached to The Basic School, Instructor Battalion, Quantico, Virginia where he served as MAL / DASF Chief. He later took over Supply Chief as a Sergeant. Sergeant Owens would eventually become one of the bases 10 Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructors. He was featured in the December 2001 issue of Marines Magazine for his overall success in the MCMAP program.
In September 2002, Sergeant Owens was assigned to 1st Marine Corps District, RS New York for duty as a canvassing recruiter at RSS Brooklyn. During that eight month period, he received the District Leadership Award for the lowest attrition rate of all the recruiters in the District. On 1 April 2003, Sergeant Owens was promoted to Staff Sergeant and shortly thereafter became the Staff Non Commissioned Officer in Charge of RSS Brooklyn. In October 2005, Staff Sergeant Owens was assigned to Supply and Container Management Branch, Blount Island Command, Jacksonville FL where he served as Attainment Chief. During his tenure, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. He later served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant and was promoted on 1 Nov 2007.
In September 2008, Gunnery Sergeant Owens was transferred to MWSG 17, Okinawa Japan and was assigned as the HQ Company First Sergeant. In January 2009, Gunnery Sergeant Owens participated in Operation Freedom Banner, in Thailand and served as the Air Command Element Staff NCOIC. In March 2009, he deployed to Kunsan Air Base, Korea in support of Operation Key Resolve. In September 2009, he was transferred to CLR-15 aboard Camp Pendleton. There he served as the Regimental Training Chief and deployed to Afghanistan as such. From April 2011 until January 2012, he served as the CLR-15 HQ Company 1stSgt.
In December 2011, Gunnery Sergeant Owens was frocked to First Sergeant and assigned to Alpha Co, 1st Radio Battalion. There he served as the Battalion educator as well as the Battalion SgtMaj on multiple occasions. In August 2014, he was transferred to 5th BN, 14th Marines to serve as the Inspector Instructor (I-I) Active Duty First Sergeant covering down on three site Batteries. On 14 April 2017 First Sergeant Owens was frocked to SgtMaj and on 26 June 2017, took over as 6th Engineer Support Battalion as the I-I Sergeant Major where he served until July 2020. On 13 August, 2020, Sergeant Major Owens assumed the duty as the Marine Aviation Training Support Group 23 Sergeant Major, where he currently serves.
Sergeant Major Owens’ personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd Award) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4th Award).