TUSTIN

Retired Lt. Col. Richard Bowen, the former officer in charge at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Facility, will receive the Legion of Merit medal at 11 a.m. today at Naval Air Station Miramar. Bowen served at numerous bases during his more than 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including Tustin and the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Bowen now serves as the director for Motor Trend Thunder, an annual event held at the Tustin base. This year’s races will be June 11-13 and will probably mark the final time the public may check out the base before the Marines leave it in July, Bowen said.