Major General Tripp Bowles serves as the director of Joint Reserve Force at the Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. His previous assignment was as commanding general of the 80th Training Command (The Army School System). Before that, he served as the deputy commanding general of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command, and before that as commander of the 86th Training Division based at Fort McCoy, Wis.
A native of Richmond, Va., MG Bowles received his Bachelor of Arts degree and commission as an Army Infantry Officer from the Virginia Military Institute in 1987. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Averett University.
He began his career as an infantry officer in 1988 with an assignment to the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Howze, Korea, where he served as an assistant brigade operations officer and rifle platoon leader. He was later assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., where he served in various positions with the Infantry Center. In 1994, he transferred to the Virginia Army National Guard where he served in the 29th Infantry Division as a staff officer and rifle company commander before transferring to the Army Reserve four years later.
In the Army Reserve, he initially served as a team leader at Army Material Command’s Logistics Civil Augmentation Program Unit. He subsequently worked as an interagency planner, headquarters commandant, and Director of Logistics for the U.S. Special Operations Command, Theater Special Operations Command in Norfolk, Va., and various other locations.
After 2001, he supported operations in Central Asia as a member of a Special Operations Task Force while assigned as a liaison officer to and mobilized member of Joint Special Operations Command. He deployed to Tallil, Iraq during “the surge” as the commander of the 942nd Quartermaster under the 377th TSC during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following assignment as a division G-8 comptroller, MG Bowles stood up the 518th Sustainment Brigade under the 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) while serving as its first deputy commander. He then was selected to command the Army Reserve Counter Terrorism Unit while serving as a counterterrorism bureau operations officer under the U.S. Department of State. He later assumed command of the 3d Brigade 98th Training Division.
MG Bowles is a joint qualified officer and graduate of the Army War College where he earned a Master of Strategic Studies degree. His additional military education includes the Infantry Basic and Advanced Officer Courses, the Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff College.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, British Army Parachutist Wings, and the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.
As a civilian, MG General Bowles is a partner in the Miller Bowles and Horn Group of Truist Financial, located in Richmond, Va. He concentrates his practice on global portfolio strategy, investment management policy, and retirement income planning.