Biography - Joe K. Owen
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Centaur 12 and 30 - Feb ’68-Feb ‘69; Chu Chi, Viet Nam
Raised on a farm in Richmond, MO. Attended grade school in a one room school and high school in the only high school in the county. Attended the University of Missouri, received a B.S. in Agriculture and commissioned as an Infantry Officer in January 1967.
Completed ROTC pilot training in 1966. Attended Infantry Officers Basic Course at Ft Benning, then to Ft Wolters and Rucker for flight training. Reported to Viet Nam, then assigned to D Troop, 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry Squadron, 25th Division in Feb 1968 and was assigned to the Scout Platoon flying OH 23 and then OH 6’s.
In Nov ’68 assumed command of the Aero-Rifle Platoon and returned to the states in Feb 1969. Married Barb in March 1969 and we went to Germany.
While in Germany was assigned to an aviation company for a few months and commanded a company before returning to Ft Benning for the Infantry Officers Advanced Course in Feb 1971. Then to Ft Rucker for the UH1 IP, Gunnery IP, and OH58 transition coursed, before returning to Viet Nam in April 1972
Assigned to the remaining Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in MR III, as the Aero-Rifle Platoon Commander in D Troop, 229th Aviation Battalion. The unit stood down in August 1972 and was reassigned to the 164th Aviation Group in MR IV in the Delta as the Group S-4. Departed Viet Nam in March 1973 and reported to Ft Hood, TX. While at Ft Hood, served on the III Corps staff, S-4 for 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Company Commander in the 5th Squadron 7th Cavalry, Mechanized Infantry and staff officer on 1st Cavalry Division staff, then S-1 for an Aviation Battalion in the 6th Air Cavalry Combat Brigade.
In Feb 1978 was assigned to Missouri for a three-year assignment as the Senior Aviation Advisor for the Missouri Army National Guard. In Feb 1981 assigned Ft Richardson, Alaska and served on the installation staff and as the S-4 for the 172nd Light Infantry Brigade. Returned to Ft Hood in Sept 1983 and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division Staff and joined the newly formed Apache (AH64) Training Brigade in Sept 1984. While assigned to the Training Brigade served as the logistic officer, Deputy Brigade Commander and Brigade Commander. Our mission was to develop, coordinate, plan, and execute for the Single Station Unit Fielding Pro0gram for all AH64 equipped units for the Army.
After retirement from the Army in 1988, was employed as a defense consultant for the fielding of a DARPA training system in Germany and for the Institute for Defense Analysis as a Senior System Analyst for a strategic joint program for modeling and simulation technologies to support military operations and training requirements. This program began in the early 1990’s and was competed in 1998. Employed as Senior Vice President, Vice President, and line Manager for a medium sized defense contracting firm in Northern Virginia until 2007, when I retired again. Since retiring have provided strategic consultant support to a small Virginia based defense contracting firm to pursue, capture, and develop DoD business. In 2011, started working as a strategic consultant for a mid-sized defense contractor to develop business in the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) sector. In 2013, we won a contract to be one of the six FAA UAS Test Sites and have supported this effort in Corpus Christi, TX as a part-time consultant.
Earned a Master in Business Administration from the University of Missouri in 1981. Published many technical defense related papers and publications and was the recipient of several military awards, including the US Army Combat Infantryman Badge, Meritorious Medal for Service, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the US Army Master Aviator Badge
My wife, Barbara, and I live in Williamsburg, VA. and have enjoyed attending the 3rd/ 4th Cav Reunions. We have two grown, married, employed children and two grandchildren. We also have two Brittany Spaniels that are trained to hunt upland birds and compete in Field Trials. We like to travel and enjoy this great country...Joe