CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
A base photographer here recently returned from his third assignment as the official photographer for the secretary of defense.
Jaime Bowman, who has been working as a photographer at the base multimedia center for nearly a year, was assigned to be the photographer for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld from Sept. 21 to Nov. 17.
Mr. Bowman also served the secretary from October to December of 2005 and July to January of 2004.
During his time as the official photographer for the secretary of defense, Mr. Bowman went wherever the secretary went, recording many notable events during his time there.
"It's the best job I've ever had," said Mr. Bowman. "It's very exciting, and the caliber of people you're surrounded by is amazing."
Mr. Bowman said that he fed off the motivation and professionalism of the people he worked with in Secretary Rumsfeld's office.
"There was always a sense of urgency because what you're doing is so important," he said.
Mr. Bowman had the opportunity to travel as part of a delegation with Secretary Rumsfeld to many places, including Russia, China, Australia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Despite the high-stress situations Secretary Rumsfeld and his staff are sometimes in, the secretary is fun to be around, Mr. Bowman said.
"He's very fun and personable," he said. "He was always joking around."
Secretary Rumsfeld steps down today as the secretary of defense during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Robert Gates, former Central Intelligence Agency chief, will become the new secretary of defense Monday.