Originally from North Carolina, CAPT Edward H. Owens II enlisted in the Navy in 1986 and has since remained on continuous active duty serving as a hospital corpsman, physician assistant, and seasoned healthcare professional. He earned a Bachelor of Science in health care management from Southern Illinois University in 1993 during his enlisted service while rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He received his commission in 1999 after completing a Bachelor of Science degree from The George Washington University through the Interservice Physician Assistant Program. Additionally, he completed a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2000 and Doctorate in Medical Sciences from the University of Lynchburg in 2022.
Since his commission, CAPT Owens' chronology of duty stations include: Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from 1999 - 2001, Naval Medical Center San Diego from 2001-2005, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) from 2005-2007, Duty Under Instruction at the University of Texas Health Science Center's Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Fellowship in San Antonio from 2007-2008, Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) from 2008-2011, Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune from 2011-2015, Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point from 2015-2018, Officer-in-Charge Expeditionary Medical Facility, Djibouti 2018-2019, and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery from 2018-2021. CAPT Owens recently completed his assignment as the Executive Officer, Expeditionary Medical Facility Kilo, Camp Lejeune, from August 2022 to August 2024.
Operationally, he has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with the Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS-374) in 2004, on-board the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in 2006, and as the Deputy Surgeon, Special Operations Task Force West, in 2010. CAPT Owens served as the Navy Physician Assistant Specialty Leader from 2016 - 2020.
His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals. CAPT Owens is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Naval Association of Physician Assistants, Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants, and North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants. He is a Shipboard Medical Department and Fleet Marine Force-qualified officer. CAPT Owens frequently guest lectures for the East Carolina University Physician Assistant Program.