POTSDAM -- Lt. Col. Ray Bowen has been appointed commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 536, and professor of aerospace studies (PAS) at Clarkson University.

Bowen has held a variety of command, operational, staff, and training assignments. He is a rated master combat systems operator/naval flight officer with over 2,600 world-wide flying hours. He is also a senior cyberspace operations officer.

Concurrently, Bowen will be serving as the commander, AFROTC Detachment 535 and PAS, at Syracuse University.

His recent assignments have included serving as the director, Strategic Operations Center Information Management Division, Multi-National Forces, Iraq in Baghdad; and deputy commander, AFROTC Southwest Region, overseeing AFROTC detachments at 36 different universities from Louisiana to Hawaii.

Bowen earned a bachelor of arts in Aviation Management from San Diego National University, holds a master of aeronautical science in aerospace operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and has completed Air War College. He has also earned a California Teaching Credential in computer software applications, business administration, and aeronautics.