In 1977 he became the Chief of Base Activities for the Phoenix Air National Guard Base and a year later he took over as commander of the 161st Air Refueling Group. For two years, beginning in 1983 he was commanding general of the Arizona Air National Guard. That same year he became the Adjutant General and Director of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, a position he held until 1994. Since his retirement from the Air National Guard General Owens has worked as a consultant for several defense contractors and as the Director of Military Programs for Robertson Aviation.