 His service as a flag officer included tours as Deputy Director of Operations on the Joint Staff (J-3) until June 1992, Director for Political-Military Affairs (J-5) until July 1994, and Chief of Naval Personnel from July 1994 to September 1996.The third successor to Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, Bowman assumed duties as Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion, on September 27, 1996.He received his fourth star on October 1, 1996.