Governor Abbott Announces Key Inspector General Appointment
Today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the appointment of Stuart W. Bowen, Jr., as Inspector General for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2016. The inspector general works to prevent, detect and investigate fraud, abuse and waste in state health and human services programs.
Bowen previously served for nearly ten years as the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), leading the federal agency charged with overseeing $62 billion in US tax dollars appropriated for Iraq's reconstruction. Reporting to the Secretaries of Defense and State, Bowen secured nearly $2 billion in taxpayer benefits, obtained over 90 convictions, produced over 500 reports, and traveled to Iraq 35 times.
Prior to his tenure as the SIGIR, Bowen served President George W. Bush as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Staff Secretary and Special Assistant to the President and Associate Counsel. His public service career also includes appointments as Deputy Counsel to Governor Bush, as Assistant Attorney General of Texas, and as Briefing Attorney to Texas Supreme Court Justice Raul Gonzalez. Bowen served four years on active duty as a United States Air Force intelligence officer, earning the Air Force Commendation medal, and he was honorably discharged as a Captain.
Bowen currently serves as a Senior Advisor on Iraq to both the United States Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio.
This appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.