USS Charlotte (SSN-766) Submarine Squadron Three Submarine Group Eight Submarines, Allied Naval Forces South Task Forces 164/69 Naval Recruiting Command
Ashore, Fowler served as a submarine tactics instructor at Naval Submarine Training Center, Pacific; as a junior member on the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board on the staff of the commander in chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; as the head, Submarine Programs Section of the Programming Division (N80) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations; deputy executive assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (N8) and the vice chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Pacific submarine force prospective commanding officer instructor; and as the executive assistant to the commander, U.S. Strategic Command.[2]
Flag officer
Following selection to flag officer, Fowler served as commander, Navy Recruiting Command and director, Naval Europe/Sixth Fleet plans and operations; deputy commander, United States Sixth Fleet; Commander Submarines, Allied Naval Forces South; commander, Submarine Group 8; and commander, Task Forces 164/69.[2] Fowler relieved Vice Admiral Rodney P. Rempt as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy on June 8, 2007.
In August 2007, Fowler unveiled new plans for the Naval Academy, stating that the school was focusing too much on extracurriculars. Some of the new changes include mandatory study time each night for all midshipmen, secured all weekday liberty (which seniors had Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and Juniors Tuesday and Friday), and mandatory meals Sunday night through Friday night. Fowler stressed, however, that the academy was not in a state of emergency, and that these changes were merely to keep the recent graduates ready to enter into wartime service. He cast the changes as having more to do with preparing future Navy and Marine officers for wartime duty than with cracking down on misbehavior.
We are a nation at war," he said. "If any campus should understand being a nation at war, it's the United States Naval Academy.[3]
Retirement
Fowler stepped down as superintendent of the Naval Academy in August 2010 (30 days earlier than his scheduled relief) amidst controversy over financial irregularities at the academy as well as multiple honor-code violations by USNA midshipmen.[4]
He was succeeded by in this post by Vice Admiral Michael H. Miller.[5]