Navy Wing at Tinker AFB
Edward D. McCabe graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program in June of 1992 and reported to Pensacola for initial flight training and then to San Antonio for the completion of his navigator training track.
His sea duty assignments include three tours with the Ironmen of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE (VQ-3) at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, as a junior officer, a department head, and then executive and commanding officer; and the USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70), home ported in Bremerton, Washington, as an aircraft launch and recovery officer, or “shooter”, and V2 Division Officer in the Air Department where he completed a deployment to the North Arabian Sea, including participation in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Captain McCabe’s shore assignments include the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned his Masters of Science in Systems Technology, Joint Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence; Strategic Communications Wing ONE (SCW-1) as department head and Operations Officer; Commander, Naval Air Forces staff as the TACAMO Readiness and Requirements Officer and subject matter expert on Naval Aviation’s unmanned systems, and the point of contact for all aviation awards, where he was recognized as the 2007 “Zeke” Cormier Honorary Tailhooker of the Year for his extensive work with the Tailhook organization recognizing Naval Aviation’s best; and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, working as the Chief of the National Military Command Center, Raven Rock Mountain Complex (Site R).
He is currently serving as Commander for Strategic Communications Wing ONE and Task Force 124.
Captain McCabe’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various other service and unit awards.
William P. Bowden was commissioned in the Air Force through ROTC, and served as a navigator and bombardier on B-52 bombers during the Vietnam War. He served in numerous staff and command positions, concluding his duty as the commanding general of Tinker Air Force Base.
Gen. Bowden is a leading citizen of Oklahoma. Following military retirement, he worked with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce in economic development, the Kirkpatrick Center museum complex as executive director and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. He was a Regent at Rose State College, president of the Last Frontier Boy Scout Council and a member of the Advisory Board of the American Citizenship Center at Oklahoma Christian University. He is past president of the Rotary Club of Oklahoma and past commander of the Oklahoma City chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars.