Bollinger Shipyards appointed Charles "Skip" Bowen as Program Manager for the FRC “Sentinel” Class Patrol Boat building program at Bollinger’s Lockport facility. Bowen joins Bollinger following a 32 year career with the United States Coast Guard, culminating with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, from 2006 to 2010. As the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, Skip served as a senior advisor to the Commandant of the Coast Guard. His various duties included service on the senior Flag level Leadership Council, multiple policy and resource decision making bodies and service as a member of the Board of Trustees at the Coast Guard Academy. Bowen also has extensive experience with USCG Patrol boat programs, having sailed on five different patrol boats during his military career, including the first 110-ft Island Class cutter, Farallon, and the second 87-ft Marine Protector Class cutter USCGC Hammerhead as the Officer In Charge. Both of these vessels were built at Bollinger, at which time Mr. Bowen was based out of the Lockport facility for over ten months, and became very familiar with the Bollinger organization. Bowen graduated with distinction from the U. S. Army Sergeants Major Academy and has been awarded numerous awards and medals including the Distinguished Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, four Commendation Medals and three Achievement medals. He holds a BS degree from Excelsior College, an MBA from Touro University International, and a Project Management Professional certification from PMI.