Lieutenant Colonel Vanessa R. Bowman assumed the role of the Savannah District Deputy Commander in July 2024. In this role, she assists with overseeing the district’s military and civil works programs, valued at approximately $1 billion. These programs include a construction program supporting 11 Army and Air Force installations throughout Georgia and North Carolina. A civil works mission that consists of wetland protection oversight across Georgia and the management of three hydro-electric dams and reservoirs that supply over half of the peaking hydropower in the Southeast. She assists with the water resource mission for the Savannah River Basin, a critical freshwater source for eastern Georgia and western South Carolina. She also shares responsibilities for military design, master planning, hazardous waste cleanup at former defense sites, and real estate activities for the Department of Defense. Additionally, she helps manage and direct disaster, catastrophic disaster, and contingency operation preparedness activities, as well as emergency operations supporting the National Response and Recovery frameworks.
A native of Oconto, Wisconsin, and Wallace, Michigan, Bowman commissioned as an Engineer officer through the Reserve Officer Training Command. Her academic degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a focus on Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Geology and Geophysics from Missouri University of Science and Technology, a Master of Arts in Security Studies from Georgetown University, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.
Bowman’s previous assignments and combat deployments include: assignments with the 37th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) as a Maintenance Platoon Leader and Light Equipment Platoon Leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) and C Company, HHC Executive Officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom (March 2003-February 2004), and battalion Adjutant-S1. She then served as the 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment B Team Leader deploying for Operation Enduring Freedom (February 2007-April 2008). She returned to the 37th Engineer Battalion and served as the battalion Engineer Equipment Maintenance Officer, S4, Public Affairs Officer, and then HHC Commander deploying again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (May 2009-May 2010). She also commanded Headquarters Company, 307th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) and served as Deputy PAO for XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.
Bowman attended Georgetown University as a General Wayne A. Downing Scholar and fellow at the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy. She then served as Executive Officer for the Deputy Chief of Engineers/Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power). After that she was the Deputy Facility Engineer and Diplomatic Facilities Program Manager at the Defense Intelligence Agency. After assignment to Fort Leonard Wood she served as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 1st Engineer Brigade and then commanded the 169 Engineer Battalion. Bowman then returned to Washington D.C. and served as Deputy Director for the Office of Army Cemeteries and graduated from the National Defense University in June 2024.
Bowman’s military education includes various courses such as the Basic and Advanced Airborne courses and Defense Information School Public Affairs Qualification Course. Her awards include the Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and several others. She has also earned the Senior and Master Parachutist Badges, German and Canadian Parachutist Badges, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), and the Bronze Order of the Engineer DeFleury Medal.