Col. Neil Thowe began his military career on August 5, 1991, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. After initial service in the Marine Corps, he earned an Army ROTC scholarship at the University of Missouri and commissioned as a Medical Service Corps Officer.
Thowe’s career includes service as Chief of Staff, 63d Readiness Division, and division-level coordinating staff assignments as G4 and G8, 807th Theater Medical Command. He previously served as the Medical Logistics (70K) Consultant to The Surgeon General. His previous command assignments include 7306th Medical Exercise Support Battalion Commander, 341st Multifunctional Medical Battalion Commander, 7228th Medical Support Unit Commander, 4204th Medical Logistics Detachment Commander, and 139th Medical Brigade HHD Commander.
He received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Thowe’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal and numerous campaign and service medals. He is a recipient of the Combat Action Badge for direct fire in Khogyani, Afghanistan, the German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge (Gold), and the Order of Military Medical Merit.