LGen (Ret'd) Steve Bowes, CMM, MSC, MSM, CD was born in Halifax, NS, and raised in Bedford just outside the city. He is a graduate of Acadia University (BA History and BA Honours Political Science) and Queen's University with a Master of Arts in Political Studies (International Relations). He joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1985. An Armour Officer, he served initially with the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) in Petawawa and Lahr, and later with the 12e Regiment Blinde du Canada in Valcartier. Institutional command appointments include the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School (RCACS), the Combat Training Centre (CTC) Gagetown, Land Forces Atlantic Area (now 5 Division), the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre (CADTC). Senior operational deployed appointments include Commander of the first Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Kandahar 2005-2006 and Deputy Chief of Staff Plans for the ISAF Joint Command (IJC) in Kabul for the NATO surge 2009-2010. He has also served as Chief Force Development (strategic foresight analysis) in NDHQ.

In 2015, Steve was promoted to LGen and appointed Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC). He led CAF domestic and international operational deployments through the transition period from Conservative to Liberal Governments which included the standup of missions in the Ukraine and Latvia, the transition of deployments in Iraq, the Gulf and Middle-East Regions and preparations for the mission to Mali. As Comd CJOC, he was engaged in the command and control of operations across all five operational domains (Maritime, Land, Air, Space and Cyber) and would argue that there are six domains of warfare with Information presently the most significant and lethal domain to a democracy in practical terms.

In 2018, he moved to Charlottetown, PEI, as the CDS Liaison Officer to DM Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and a senior advisor to the Minister.

Steve retired from the CAF in October 2020 after more than 35 years of service. He remains an Ambassador for the CAF Charity "Support our Troops" and "Soldier On!" He never gets tired of reminding all that he has turned professional with the BGA (Bad Golfer's Association) and his foot wedge still remains by far his best club.