Having spent four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, mynetworkcompany.com CEO Darrel Bowman knows a thing or two about what qualities servicemembers need to execute missions successfully.

And he's a firm believer that veterans who come out of the Armed Forces with those instilled attributes also make great employees at mynetworkcompany.com, a Tacoma-based technical support company Bowman started in 1988.

"In this business there are many unique problems," he said. "Plans change. You constantly have to adapt and overcome."

Bowman has made it a point to hire veterans and current active duty information technology military personnel, and for doing so he recently won the new veteran-owned business "Top Gun" award at a Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber lunch on June 22 at Hotel Murano.

Bowman was one of seven award winners at the 2010 Spotlight! On Business award lunch. 

Mynetworkcompany.com employs four permanent staff members, as well as six contractors. The company handles various degrees of technical support for several local businesses, including helping them become more virtual, customize their network design, consolidate their servers and increase their network security.

The 50-year-old Bowman, who was born at Madigan Army Medical Center, attended Washington High School and later Pacific Lutheran University, has routinely hired active duty Army and Air Force instructors from Clover Park Technical College's computer network certification program.

"Their work ethic is incredible," said Bowman, who's worked hard to overcome a back injury suffered during his service in the Coast Guard. "They have a great sense of honor, respect and duty, and that's important."

Mynetworkcompany.com customers experience the top-notch service first-hand.

"They've helped us improve our productivity," said Kevin Lovejoy, an attorney at Connelly Law Offices in Tacoma. "They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and the computer is our pen. They've given us the tools we need to better represent our clients."

And with a son working as an explosive ordinance disposal technician in the Army, Bowman knows all about the personal network servicemembers lean on for support and the daily stressors each endure.

"Faith and family come first," he said.

But service to the job is a strong third, and Bowman makes sure his employees put forth the tenacity to tackle any job they're faced with.

"The customer's business relies on it," Bowman said. "Failure isn't an option."