Prior to becoming Police Chief, Owen was the owner of Sterling Owen & Associates, which was a consulting company specializing in corporate investigations, security planning and Counterintelligence Operational oversight. Domestic clients have included the Department of Justice, the Department of Energy, and others.

Chief Owen retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1995. At that time he was serving as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Knoxville, Tennessee field office. His prior experience included assignments in Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago, Illinois. During his approximately twenty-three year tour with the FBI, he investigated or supervised both property and personal crimes. For approximately one and one-half years, he served in an undercover capacity both as an operative and administrator. Additionally, he served as the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team Leader and Coordinator in the Chicago and Knoxville field offices.

Among his accomplishments, Chief Owen received the national Criminal Investigator of the Year award in 1985. This award represents all federal law enforcement agencies and recognizes one investigator for his/her achievements annually. In 1991 Mr. Owen received the FBI Merit Award for his participation in the hostage rescue at the Talladega Federal Prison riots.

Chief Owen has lectured nationally on various topics including investigating and prosecuting white-collar crimes, security matters, and other law enforcement topics.

Chief Owen has taught college level undergraduate courses in an adjunct capacity. Beginning in 1997, he served as a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Trustee in the Eastern District of Tennessee and on April 23, 2001 was appointed to the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Panel. Additionally, he is a graduate of the "Year 2000" class of Leadership Knoxville which is composed of community leaders interested in the direction of Knoxville for the 21st century.

Chief Owen is a 2006 graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute. In 2007, Chief Owen participated in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) sponsored by the Central Command of the Department of Defense. Chief Owen and other non-military personnel visited our troops in the Mid-East expressing support for their commitment to our country.

His professional affiliations include the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI Special Agents Association, Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Inc., American Society for Industrial Security, and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). He currently serves as a first Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and is the TACP representative on the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Committee. Chief Owen voluntarily serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley Corporate Board, Greater Smoky Mountain Council Executive Board of the Boys Scouts of America and the Holston Hills Country Club.

Chief Owen is married, the father of two daughters and a grandfather of three grandsons.