Scott Bawden is a Seattle native who began his military service at age 19 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During his seven years in the Marine Corps, he attended the University of Washington under the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. After college, he elected a Navy commission and was selected for nuclear propulsion training.
While in the Navy, Scott earned his master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he also served as an Assistant Professor and NROTC Instructor.
Captain Bawden took command of USS Providence (SSN 719) in March 1999. In 2001 Providence conducted combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. For his role in combat operations, Captain Bawden was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and, in 2002, received the Navy League of the United States’ John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership. Providence received the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Navy Unit Commendation for her gallant actions in defense of freedom and democracy worldwide.
Captain Bawden commanded Submarine Squadron SEVENTEEN, the Navy’s largest and most diverse submarine squadron, until his retirement in 2007.
After leaving military service, Scott worked as the Engineering Director at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington (now Vigor Industrial), where he completed a two-year task to completely modernize, reorganize, train and improve engineering processes in order to support the shipyard’s desire to re-enter the new shipbuilding market. This successful project was completed in 2009 and the yard is now engaged in a number of successful shipbuilding projects. Key to this success was Scott’s ability to identify and train talented people to reach their highest potential.
Scott then worked at Lockheed Martin, starting as a manager in the security services area where he helped facilitate a very successful contract from start to finish that provided a number of important security-related services to the Navy. He was then transferred to Global Training and Logistics’ corporate headquarters in Orlando, Florida where he worked as an Advanced Systems engineer, helping to execute training-related contracts for military and civilian customers and developing new areas of business in the energy, healthcare, education, and agriculture industries. Scott’s innovative software development processes were awarded U.S. patents in 2014.
Now working at the Arctic Submarine Laboratory in San Diego, Scott trains and accompanies U.S. attack submarine crews operating in the Arctic, including biannual ice exercises and trips to the North Pole.