The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal to Master Chief Petty Officer Charles W. Bowen, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from June 2006 through May 2010, culminating over 32 years of selfless service to the Nation. An unrivaled advocate for the Coast Guard workforce and a trusted advisor and confidant directly to the Commandant, Master Chief Bowen shaped policy design and implementation Service-wide and was instrumental in the development and execution of the Commandant’s strategic agenda to re-capitalize and modernize the Coast Guard. Master Chief Bowen elevated the value of the Coast Guard to the American public and our international partners while strengthening the Service’s operational capability, mission support functions, and interagency partnerships. Demonstrating extraordinary commitment to the well-being of Service members and their families, Master Chief Bowen visited more than 1,000 Coast Guard units to engage in all-hands sessions, providing frank and insightful feedback, answering questions, and advocating on their behalf to Coast Guard leadership, the President and Congress. Exercising broad knowledge, expertise and decisive action, he effected key changes to achieve military benefits parity with fellow Services, improvements to Coast Guard-owned housing, and medical services and childcare to enhance the quality of life of more than 59,000 active, reserve and civilian personnel. He expertly reorganized the Rating Force Master Chief organizational structure to resolve cross-programmatic issues and better incorporate field concerns. He elevated housing shortfalls to National attention resulting in the expansion of a critical Housing Assistance Program. And he envisioned, designed and implemented the new Maritime Enforcement rating to raise and sustain law enforcement competencies throughout the Coast Guard. His unprecedented employment of multi-media communications, including his All Hands blog, instilled transparency and informed a more knowledgeable, better prepared and more capable workforce. His efforts helped ensure the Commandant met his strategic goals and laid the groundwork for a change-centric Coast Guard that is able to meet the maritime challenges of the 21st Century. Master Chief Bowen’s leadership, dedication, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.