Brigadier General Rowell received his commission after graduating with Honors from the United States Naval Academy in 1992.
After TBS, he completed flight school, and in 1995 reported to VMFAT-101, MCAS El Toro, California for conversion training in the F/A-18 Hornet. Subsequently, he served with VMFA(AW)-225 as the Schedules Officer, Airframes Officer, Assistant Maintenance Officer, and Pilot Training Officer. During this tour, he graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, and the TOPGUN course at the Navy Fighter Weapons School. Captain Rowell then transferred to MCAS Yuma, Arizona in 2000 for duty as an instructor pilot at MAWTS-1, where he deployed to Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait to augment VMFA(AW)-533 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2005, Major Rowell reported to MAG-31, MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina where he served in a variety of billets culminating in command of VMFA(AW)-533, “The Hawks.”
After top level school, Brigadier General Rowell served two years in the Capabilities and Acquisition Division of the Joint Staff J-8 as the Strategic and Tactical Systems branch chief.
Brigadier General Rowell assumed command of Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1) in May 2016.VMX-1 was awarded the Commandant’s Aviation Trophy for superior performance in 2017. In 2018, he was reassigned to Headquarters, Marine Corps as the officer in charge of Marine Tactical Aviation. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the Director of Communication, Headquarters, Marine Corps. In June 2022, he assumed his current role as Assistant Wing Commander, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Brigadier General Rowell has accumulated more than 3400 flight hours with more than 2900 hours in the F/A-18, and has held every tactical and flight designation qualification in that aircraft. He was NATOPS qualified in the F-5, MV-22, and F-35B. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and Army War College. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit with gold star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal Individual Action with combat distinguishing device, Air Medal Strike/Flight Award with numeral five, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars and combat distinguishing device, and the Navy Achievement Medal.