Captain John Bowie was born April 8, 1902, in Annapolis Junction, Maryland. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering on June 3, 1925. Following graduation, he was appointed as a Junior Engineer and on March 1, 1926, was commissioned as a Ensign.

During his 36-year career, Captain Bowie was assigned aboard the following ships: LYDONIA as Acting Executive Officer; EXPLORER, NATOMA, MIKAWE, SURVEYOR, DISCOVERER, PERKIN-COWIE, GILBERT, COWIE, SOSBEE, LESTER JONES, HODGSON, and the PATHFINDER as Commanding Officer. His other assignments included Triangulation, Levels, Reconnaissance, Assistant Chief, and Chief of Coastal Surveys, Chief of Operations in the Oceanography Division, and Chief of Program Planning Coordination staff in the Office of the Director.

During World War II he received two Certificates of Service for having worked on projects for the Departments of the Army and Navy in areas determined by the Departments of the Army and Navy to be of immediate military hazard. Captain Bowie received service ribbons for both the Atlantic and Pacific theater areas. Captain Bowie is survived by his wife, Audrey, of Bethesda, Maryland.

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NOAA Corps Bulletin, 3/1/1986