Doug’s interest in aviation and art accompanied him to college, where he graduated with a private pilot’s license and a BFA in Commercial Art from Central Missouri State University (now the University of Central Missouri).

The following year Doug entered the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a T-38 instructor pilot at Reese AFB, and then as a C-130 aircraft commander at Pope AFB in Fayetteville, North Carolina before leaving the Air Force.

In 2001 Doug attended a Flemish Realism painting workshop that ignited an artistic ability that had lain dormant since college and he carried his drawing skills into painting.

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Two very popular areas of art for Doug are aviation art, and an American flag series he calls “Fabric of Our Freedom”. Through the flags he would like to personally thank the brave men and women of our military, past and present, and their families, who have served our great nation. The Rowe family has invested heavily in the military; Doug, his father, sister, and brother-in-law have served a combined 46 years in the Air Force. Their family understands well the sacrifices made every day by members of the military and their families, and they are thankful for the dedicated service of these families.

Doug serves as a staff artist for the US Navy with the Naval History and Heritage Command based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC.

He is an artist member of the American Society of Aviation Artists where he has won The James V. Roy Award in 2018, an Award of Merit in 2017, and a “Founders’ Gold Ribbon” and the Walt Jeffries People’s Choice Award in a 2013 international unjuried show. His aviation art has hung at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 2010 and 2014, the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, CAE SimuFlite at the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport, the Art Center of Battle Creek and several North Carolina exhibits. He has also won several local awards for his art including two “Best of Show” awards, a “First Merit,” two “Second Merit” awards, three “People’s Choice Best of Show” awards and 2010 Artist of the Year with the Sanford Brush & Palette Club.