[1] Bowron began his career in law enforcement as an officer with the Detroit Police Department, before joining the secret service in 1974.

He worked as a special agent in the Chicago field office and was primarily assigned to combatting counterfeiting and financial crimes, serving in the Secret Service's intelligence division.

He attended the George Washington University’s School of Government and Business Administration Contemporary Executive Development Program, in 1988.

Of his performance, President Clinton remarked: "Eljay Bowron has done a superb job as Director of the United States Secret Service, and I am accepting his resignation with regret.

[4] After leaving government service, Bowron became the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vance International, a position he held until 2003.