Josephine Beatrice Bowman

Josephine Beatrice Bowman ( born December 19, 1881 in Des Moines, Iowa; † January 3, 1971 ) was the Superintendent of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps of the U.S. Navy.

Bowman graduated in 1904 at the Medico - Chirurgical Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a nurse and then went to the American Red Cross Nursing Service. In 1908, Bowman went to the newly formed U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. In 1911 she was appointed Chief Nurse.

In October 1914, Bowman left the Navy temporarily, in order to practice in the UK for the Red Cross can. In May 1915, Bowman returned to the Navy. During the First World War, Bowman served as chief nurse at the Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois and helped 1918-1919 during the Spanish flu.

1919 Bowman served as the first woman on a warship of the Navy, the USS Relief (AH -1). In December 1922, Bowman was appointed Superintendent Navy Nurse Corps and remained so until her transfer from active duty to retirement in 1935.

Bowman was the first superintendent who received a military rank. Bowman went in 1935 as a lieutenant commander in retirement.

On January 3, 1971 Josephine Beatrice Bowman died at the age of 90 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.