About

Company Overview

Gowen Defense Services exists to provide defense-oriented businesses, large and small, with expert advice and assistance through a variety of services ranging from strategy and business development to systems engineering and navigating through the DoD acquisition process.

Founder, Tim Gowen

Tim Gowen is the recently retired Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard. Capitalizing on his unique combination of 37 years serving in the Active Army, Army Reserves, and Army National Guard while simultaneously serving as a DoD civil servant Aerospace Engineer, Tim has formed Gowen Defense Services to help defense-oriented companies, large and small to connect with the US military community, meet their requirements, and ultimately enable our US service members to expand capabilities and improve readiness, so they can fight and win our nation’s wars.

Highlights of Tim’s career

  • Member US Army PEO-Aviation FLRAA Source Selection Advisory Council
  • Led three National Guard Readiness Advisory Committees (Information, Modernization, Aviation)
  • National Guard Requirements Oversight Committee member
  • National Guard representative to Army Cyber Command’s Total Army Information Council

Army Career

  • Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard
  • Secretary of the Maryland Military Department
  • National Guard Assistant to the Commander of Army Futures Command
  • Deputy Commanding General (National Guard) of United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence (at Fort Rucker)
  • Deputy Commanding General of the 29th Infantry Division
  • Director of the Joint Staff, Maryland National Guard
  • Commander of 29th Combat Aviation Brigade
  • Commander of Task Force AVCRAD 06-08, Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • Commander E Co, 1-101st Aviation Battallion, Operation Desert Storm

US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

  • Assistant Program Executive Officer for Engineering
  • Assistant Program Manager for Systems Engineering
  • Chief Engineer, AIRWorks
  • Director, Naval Aviation Center for Rotorcraft Advancement
  • Deputy Director, USN/USMC Airworthiness Directorate
    • Author of DODD 5030.61 DoD Airworthiness Policy
    • Founding Chairman of NATO Airworthiness Working Group
  • Flying Qualities Engineer

Education and Training

  • Masters in Strategic Studies from US Army War College
  • Masters in Engineering (Aerospace) from the University of Maryland
  • Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical) from Temple University
  • Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Graduate United States Naval Test Pilot School (Class 113), NAS Patuxent River
  • Senior Army Aviator (Qualified in UH-60, OH-58D, UH-1H, OH-58A/C)
  • Professional Pilot (commercial multi-engine, fixed and rotary wing, an instrument rating, Certified Flight Instructor)
  • DAWIA Certified System Planning, Research, Development, & Engineering (Level 3), Program Mgmt (Level 2), Test and Eval (Level 2)
  • Top Secret SCI Clearance

Director of Strategy & BD,
Aaron Harding

Aaron is a proven executive and military aviation leader with over 22 years of recognized leadership experience in executive and director positions for large, complex organizations.  Whether in a boardroom, classroom, or the cockpit, he’s led and coordinated the highest level of service and results for aviation and multi-functional organizations operating around the globe.  He excels in transforming vague ideas into integrated action, improving efficiency and reliability.  Apart from developing and directing successful strategies and operations, he brings a broad but deep skill set in data-driven analytics, marketing, human resources, risk management, maintenance, logistics, compliance, finance, and process improvement.