Lieutenant Colonel Mowery graduated from Texas A&M University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps that same year. After earning his designation as a Naval Aviator in August, 1996, he reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron-303 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton, California for initial training in the AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter.
From 1997 to 2001, LtCol Mowery served with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA)-367 based at Camp Pendleton. He held multiple billets including the squadron Intelligence Officer, Legal Officer, and a Maintenance Division Officer-in-Charge (OIC). In 1997 he deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP). In 2000 he deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), where he served as the Aviation Combat Element Ordnance OIC.
In late 2001, LtCol Mowery was selected to serve with Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, Virginia. While assigned to HMX-1 he supported and flew the President of the United States as a White House Command Pilot in the VH-3, VH-60, and CH-46 helicopters and also served as both a White House Liaison Officer, planning all aviation requirements for Presidential helicopter lifts, and the Plans and Tactics Officer, where he developed, implemented, and managed the squadron’s world-wide Presidential Contingency Plans.
In early 2006 LtCol Mowery returned to California and resumed flying Cobras with HMLA-367. He served as the squadron’s Logistics Officer, Operations Officer, and the Aviation Maintenance Officer. While assigned to HMLA-367 he completed two seven-month combat deployments to Iraq’s Al Anbar Province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 05-07 and OIF 08.1/.2.
In June 2009 LtCol Mowery was assigned to Head Quarters Marine Corps, Department of Aviation at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. He served as the Aviation Plans, Programs and Budgetary Matters Branch Action Officer for Marine Corps aviation future force lay-down, amphibious ship integration, and for the US Government/Government of Japan strategic level restructure of US forces in the Pacific.
In November 2010 LtCol Mowery returned to Camp Pendleton to assume command of HMLA-267. During his 18 months as Commanding Officer, LtCol Mowery led his squadron through a successful seven-month combat deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The squadron also executed a full conversion to the new UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters and was recognized as the “Marine Corps Light Attack Squadron of the Year” for 2011.
After relinquishing command in 2012, LtCol Mowery was selected to attend the National War College in Washington, D.C., where he received a Master’s Degree in National Security Strategy. Upon graduation in June 2013, he was assigned to the Pentagon as an Assistant Director of Policy within the Office of Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management and then as a Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense, Personnel and Readiness. In June, 2015, LtCol Mowery assumed his present duties at Marine Corps Base Quantico as the Executive Officer of The Basic School.
LtCol Mowery has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in naval aircraft (over 1000 of which were flown in combat) and is a designated Flight Leader, Weapons Training Officer, Night Systems Instructor, and Forward Air Controller (Airborne) in the Super Cobra. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star in Lieu of 2nd award, Strike/Flight Air Medal with Numeral “15”, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.