Joseph Cowan will share his FBI and U.S. Marine Corps experiences at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in Connell Hall, Room 131.
Joseph Cowan has lived a storied life – 20 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and 24 years active and reserve duty in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Cowan will share and reflect on his journey in his program “Reflections on a Life in Public Service” at 2 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, in Wayne State College’s Connell Hall, Room 131. The public is invited.
As an FBI special agent, Cowan investigated federal crimes related to counterintelligence, counterterrorism, international corruption, and violent crime. He led teams on high-risk operations and National Security Special Events, including protective detail for the FBI director, the U.S. attorney general, and foreign dignitaries. Cowan’s work landed him in more than 85 countries and garnered him a key role in preparing more than 1,200 FBI employees and family members for service abroad.
Cowan retired from the Marine Corps in 2014 as a lieutenant colonel, and he retired from the FBI in 2022. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he guest lectures in the Political Science Department and serves on the Advisory Board of the Intelligence Community Scholars Program. He is also owner and principal consultant of Sundown Global Solutions, LLC, an international security consultancy.