First Sergeant Trevor J. Bowen is a native of Columbus, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May 2007 and attended recruit training with Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduation, he completed Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, followed by Military Police/Correctional Specialist School at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He was subsequently assigned to the Provost Marshal’s Office, Company B, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific Brig (MCIPAC), Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, where he served in multiple billets within the brig.
In August 2009, First Sergeant Bowen received orders to Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG), Quantico, Virginia. After completing the Marine Security Guard (MSG) Watch Stander Course, he served consecutive tours as an MSG Watch Stander at Detachment Astana, Kazakhstan (Region 1); Detachment Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Region 2); and Detachment Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Region 8). On 28 October 2011, he and his detachment successfully responded to a terrorist attack against the U.S. Embassy Sarajevo. In December 2011, he provided VIP security support for the Secretary of State during the Afghanistan Conference in Bonn, Germany.
In August 2012, First Sergeant Bowen reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, where he served with the Security and Emergency Services Battalion as the Contraband Control and Special Operations Reaction Team (SORT) Noncommissioned Officer in Charge and Fire Safety/Hazardous Materials NCO. In June 2014, he was assigned to the Marksmanship Training Unit, serving as the Chief Instructor.
In March 2016, First Sergeant Bowen reported to the Marine Corps Installations East Brig, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as Programs Chief and Duty Brig Supervisor. He returned overseas in May 2019 to MCIPAC Brig, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, serving as Programs Chief Counselor and Duty Brig Supervisor. Later that year, he was assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force, 3d Law Enforcement Battalion, where he served as the Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge for the Custodial Support Element during the Philippines Detainee Operations mission in Manila, Republic of the Philippines. In February 2020, he returned to MCIPAC Brig as the Chief Counselor and Command Financial Specialist for the Correctional Custody Unit.
In October 2021, First Sergeant Bowen reported to MCESG to attend the MSG Detachment Commander Course. Upon graduation, he was assigned as Detachment Commander, Detachment Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco (Region 5), in February 2022. In April 2022, he provided VIP security support for the Secretary of State’s visit to Rabat. In recognition of outstanding performance, his detachment was awarded Region 5 Detachment of the Year for 2022, citing excellence in humanitarian support, community engagement, leadership, morale, and continued education.
In March 2023, First Sergeant Bowen assumed duties as Detachment Commander, Detachment Beijing, People’s Republic of China (Region 3). In January 2024, he was recognized by the Commandant of the Marine Corps as the Fiscal Year 2023 Marine Security Guard of the Year Runner-Up. In May 2024, his detachment was awarded Region 3 Most Improved Detachment of the Year for 2023, recognizing sustained operational improvements and community involvement. From 2023 to 2025, his detachment provided security support for more than thirty VIP visits to Beijing.
In September 2025, First Sergeant Bowen reported to MCESG, Region 6 Headquarters, Johannesburg, South Africa, where he currently serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader.
First Sergeant Bowen’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars, the Department of State Superior Honor Award, two Department of State Meritorious Honor Awards, and the Department of State Franklin Award.