Doug McGowen serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Mayor Jim Strickland and the City of Memphis. As Chief Operating Officer, McGowen directly manages and oversees all city operating departments and related agencies including Fire, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Development, Engineering, Public Works – including solid waste, storm water and wastewater management; Libraries, Housing and Community Development, General Services, Animal Services, and Performance Management. Immediately prior to his COO role, he served as Director of Performance and Innovation for the City of Memphis, and led the City’s Sexual Assault Task Force.

Prior to joining the city team, McGowen served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy, retiring as a Captain in 2011 after 26 years of service.   His last assignment was as Commanding Officer of the Naval Base in Millington, TN. McGowen also served as Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO TWO, Chief Operating Officer for the US Navy Recruiting Command, and Chief Operating Officer for Carrier Air Wing NINE. During his career, McGowen completed multiple overseas deployments and participated in combat operations during Operations Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom flying the F-14 TOMCAT and later the FA-18F Super Hornet. McGowen holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Military Institute and an M.A. in National Security from the Naval War College.