In partnership with the Veterans Coordination Commission, I am pleased to present the June 2003 Veteran of the Month – Dr. Richard J. Gowen.

Dr. Richard Gowen began his military career in the ROTC program at Rutgers University. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering and following his graduation, served as an officer in the Unites States Air Force from 1957 to 1977. Dr. Gowen earned a M.S. in 1960 and a PhD in 1962 in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University.

His service to the Air Force included fifteen years as a member of the permanent faculty of the United States Air Force Academy. Dr. Gowen also served as the Director of the Joint NASA-Air Force Space Medical Instrumentation Project and as a member of the NASA Astronaut Medical Research Team.

Dr. Gowen’s commitment to the military has helped produce a nationally ranked Sr. ROTC program for SDSM&T. The SDSM&T ROTC program was most recently ranked 34th of 270 Sr. ROTC programs in the nation and recognized by the Commanding General of Cadet Command as being in the top 15% of his Sr. ROTC Programs. This distinct honor is in recognition of the quantity and superb quality of Officers produced at the School of Mines for the United States Army.

Dr. Gowen’s life and career has been dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and discoveries, educating students to prepare them for the challenges of the engineering, scientific, and technological workforce, helping them to embrace the wonders of math and science. Dr. Gowen has encouraged his professors and researchers to aggressively pursue research funding that will not only allow SDSM&T to advance knowledge and make discoveries, but will assist industry, the nation and the world. The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology has done that through research projects for the US Army, US Air Force, NASA, National Science Foundation, and many others. His legacy will affect the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology long after his retirement. His service to Rapid City, Black Hills and all South Dakota communities will continue for many years to come.