USO Appoints Aaron Bowman as the New Executive Director for USO Florida

Aaron Bowman, the former Senior Vice President of Business Development for the JAXUSA division of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, has been selected as the new Executive Director for USO Florida. Bowman will assume his new role Jan. 29, 2024.

Bowman will be responsible for the leadership, fund development, and oversight of all USO service delivery across the state, including nine fixed USO centers located at numerous locations to include Jacksonville, Pensacola, Orlando, and Tampa.

“After a thorough selection process, the USO is excited that Aaron will lead USO Florida in navigating and expanding the support for our military members and their families throughout Florida,“ said Lisa Marie Riggins, Regional President, USO Southeast Region. “His decades of leadership and service in the U.S. Navy, to include serving as the Commanding Officer of Naval Station Mayport during his time in uniform, brings a seasoned leadership voice to the USO, and military and business communities throughout the state.”

Prior to joining USO Florida as the Executive Director, Bowman oversaw the process of welcoming hundreds of companies to Northeast Florida and creating over 35,000 quality jobs for the region. He also served eight years on the Jacksonville City Council representing the 75,000 constituents of District Three and was elected President by his peers and held many leadership roles at all levels of various organizations within the United States Navy, Chamber of Commerce, and Jacksonville Government.

Bowman honorably served in the U.S. Navy for over 27 years, retiring as a U.S. Navy Captain. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1983 and began his career as a pilot at Cecil Field in Jacksonville flying the F/A-18 Hornet and A-7 Corsair. He later became Commanding Officer at Naval Station Mayport, the third-largest Naval Station in the United States where he retired from the Navy in 2010.

“I am honored to assume this important role to expand the USO’s mission delivery and outreach support throughout Florida. The USO has a long tradition of providing vital support to our nation’s armed forces and I am humbled to be part of this renowned organization,” said Bowman.

Bowman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration from Embry-Riddle University.

Media requesting additional information, or an interview with Aaron Bowman please contact Barry Morris, USO Southeast Region Senior Regional Communications Manager at bmorris@uso.org.