Doug McGowen is MLGW's President and CEO and has served in that role since December 2022. 

McGowen most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer for Mayor Jim Strickland and the City of Memphis.  As Chief Operating Officer, McGowen directly oversaw all city operating departments and related agencies. From March 2020 to March 2022, he also led the Memphis and Shelby County COVID-19 Joint Task Force, coordinating all aspects of a successful pandemic response. Passionate about making Memphis a better place to live and work, McGowen also serves as Board Chair of the Mid-South American Heart Association and Board Chair for Explore Bike Share.  

Immediately prior to his COO role, he served as Director of the Innovation Team for the City of Memphis (now Innovate Memphis) and headed the Memphis Sexual Assault Kit 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/Desert Storm 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 United States Naval War College.  Born in Meadville, PA, McGowen and his family are proud to call Memphis home.

• Annual Financial Disclosure