Liberty Spotlight: Capt. Bowne Published May 12, 2015 By 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Name and Rank: Capt. Andrew Bowne Unit: 48th Fighter Wing Office of the Staff Judge Advocate Duty Title: Chief of Military Justice Time in Service: 5 years Time at RAF Lakenheath: 2 years Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Hobbies: Spending time with my family, hiking and traveling Core Values Portrayed: Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do How does the individual portray these core values? Bowne was submitted for a Liberty Spotlight by Master Sgt. Kathy Evans, 48th Fighter Wing Legal Office superintendent. According to Evans, on most nights and weekends, long after the duty day ends, Bowne is still working hard to manage one of the busiest military justice workloads in U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Whether it's addressing the myriad of issues associated with a pending trial, ongoing investigation, or working with commanders on formulating the best way ahead on a host of administrative and criminal justice matters, Bowne exemplifies dedication and sacrifice. While much of what he does occurs behind the scenes, the effects are evident across the wing and impact every unit on Royal Air Force Lakenheath. Dedicating his time to assist commanders in addressing a range of military justice matters allows those commanders to focus their energies on meeting their demanding mission requirements and contributes to the maintenance of good order and discipline across the Liberty Wing. Why did you join the Air Force? My grandpa was a Marine and veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, so I grew up with a profound appreciation and respect for our military. I considered applying to the Naval Academy, but I'd wanted to be a lawyer since I was about 7 years old, so I went to school to become a lawyer instead of an officer. When I was in law school, I met several Air Force Judge Advocate Generals and realized I could combine both professions. I interned at the Pentagon with the Air Force JAG Corps and spent the next two years trying to convince my family that I should join the military. My grandpa told me he'd kill me if I joined the Marines. How does your job support the mission of the 48th Fighter Wing? As chief of military justice, I assist commanders in maintaining good order and discipline throughout the wing. George Washington said, "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all." Just as in the Revolutionary War, discipline makes our Air Force the most professional fighting force in the world. My job is to provide the best legal advice I can to commanders to assist them in properly addressing discipline matters in their squadrons, allowing them to focus on mission accomplishment. I believe I help commanders foster an environment where the mission is able to succeed safely and hopefully deters crimes from occurring. What drives you as an Airman? I absolutely love what I do. As a JAG, I work long hours and deal with a variety of military justice issues, to sometimes include disturbing evidence of very serious crimes. If I didn't love what I did, it would be difficult, but I'm always excited to see what the next day brings. I truly feel lucky to be able to work with some incredible Airmen and have fun while being able to stand up in court and say "I represent the United States of America." As an officer and lawyer, I am charged with supporting and defending the Constitution. I am proud of our heritage as Airmen and understand that our privilege to wear the uniform is always temporary. I strive to live up to that awesome responsibility. What skills do you possess that set you apart from others? Two things that have served me well throughout my career are my memory and mental toughness. Growing up, my brother and I would challenge each other to memorize baseball stats, world capitols, or U.S. presidents, so I have been unwittingly training my memory for most of my life. As a lawyer, being able to retain facts and the law makes my life so much easier. I still have to research the law constantly, but learning and recalling the facts of a case is always helpful. I spend a lot of time reading witness statements and investigative reports on dozens of cases at a time. Sometimes a case is decided on a minor detail; being able to recall all that information allows me to focus on applying the law to those facts. It also makes me a great teammate in pub quizzes. I think mental toughness helps me deal with stress. It allows me to manage the demands of the job and get through challenges. It helps me stay positive and pushes me to always try harder. What has been your favorite place to travel in England/Europe, or where would you like to travel to? In England, I try to visit London as often as I can. Outside of England, I enjoy being outdoors in places like Switzerland, Norway and the Scottish Highlands. I am looking forward to taking my family to Rome in the fall.