The Puget Soundings

Past Commander Dave Bowman

Dave Bowman is a historian, broadcaster, and a slightly decorated United States Navy Submarine Veteran whose career has spanned the silent depths of undersea patrols, the spirited debates of talk radio, and the thoughtful corridors of historical inquiry. Known for his clear-eyed analysis, resonant storytelling, and wry sense of humor, Dave has dedicated much of his life to preserving and interpreting the past, especially as it intersects with American liberty, military service, submarines, and civic life.

Born in Oklahoma, raised in Colorado and Utah, Dave later planted his roots in in Washington State. He joined the U.S. Navy on the day he graduated from Ogden High School in 1981. He served as a Fire Control Technician (Ballistic Missile) aboard the nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan SSBN-727(G). Through sorcery, favoritism and simony, he achieved the rank of FTB1(SS), although he would have been happy as a FTB2(SS) for life. His time under the ocean’s surface and later as an official Navy Instructor, left him with more than technical precision and a taste for black coffee: it instilled in him a lifelong respect for discipline, duty, and the camaraderie of those who choose to serve beneath the waves.

Following his service, Dave transitioned to civilian life with the same curiosity and rigor that marked his military career. He flirted with being a pastor, but quickly realized that he was not really cut out for ministry.

He became a highly regarded talk radio host and creator of several enduring podcast projects, including The Dave Bowman Show, Dave Does History, and What The Frock?, each podcast reflecting a different facet of his intellect: civic engagement, historical storytelling, and cultural satire.

As a historian, Dave specializes in making complex events both accessible and meaningful. His weekly series Liberty 250 on the Bill Mick Live Show is an ambitious, year long project exploring the ideas, people, and events that shaped the Declaration of Independence and the American experiment in liberty. With a mix of humor, skepticism, and reverence for tradition, he brings the past to life, not as distant facts, but as living lessons with enduring relevance.

Dave also serves as an active member of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI) Bremerton Base, where he contributes not only as a member but as a training leader, historian, and digital transformation advocate. His recent efforts are helping to bring The Puget Soundings newsletter into a modern, web-based format, ensuring that the stories of America’s undersea warriors are preserved and shared in new and accessible ways. Dave service as the Base Commander from January 2020, through January 2024, leading the Base through the difficult COVID-19 Pandemic.

As the Base Historian, Dave collects sea stories, articles and artifacts that tell the story of US Navy Submarine Veterans. His mantra is: I don’t need to tell the whole story every day, I just try to tell one story each day…”

Whether he’s teaching WordPress to veterans, producing a podcast episode about US History, or fielding live calls on current events, Dave Bowman’s approach remains the same: direct, informed, and infused with a deep respect for those who came before. He challenges his audiences to think critically, laugh occasionally, and always seek the truth, even when it’s inconvenient, or especially when it is.

Today, Dave lives in the Pacific Northwest with his family. When not writing, broadcasting or recording, he enjoys baseball, T20 cricket, naval history, rescuing used books, and watching his blood sugar levels spike and crash. Dave loves music, is a former professional musician and he loves the Rolling Stones.

Dave is buried in Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey.