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 entering academia, Bowen held positions within the U.S. Department of State and worked for the staffs of several prominent senators: Francis H. Case, Karl Earl Mundt, Abraham A. Ribicoff, and Jacob K. Javits.