Prior to beginning his academic career Bowen served in the United States Department of State and on the staffs of Senators Francis H. Case, Karl Earl Mundt, Abraham A. Ribicoff and Jacob K. Javits.
Before becoming an academic, Bowen held positions within the U.S. government, working for the Department of State and on the staffs of several influential senators: Francis H. Case, Karl Earl Mundt, Abraham A. Ribicoff, and Jacob K. Javits.