Captain Owen C. Martin Jr. was born in Maben, West Virginia on March 13, 1937. He graduated from Kaiserslautern American High School in Germany 1954, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Southwestern University in June, 1958. Following graduate work at Iowa State University and the University of Texas, he was commissioned as an Ensign in March 1961.

      Captain Martin's initial sea assignment was in the communications department of USS Hancock (CVA-19). At sea, he also served as the Engineer officer in USS Ingersoll (DD-652) from May 1967 to September 1968, as Material officer for Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One from September 1968 to February 1971, and as Executive officer on USS Paul (FF-1080) from September 1974 to April 1976. His shore assignments have included duty as the Maintenance Plans officer for the Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and assignment as the Planning, Programming and budgeting Coordinator in the Secretary of the Navy's Office of Program Appraisal.

      Captain Martin received his Master of Science degree in Operations Research from the Naval Post Graduate School in June 1966. He completed the Command and Staff course at the Naval War College in June 1973. Captain Martin's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" with two gold stars for subsequent awards. Captain Martin is married to the former Alicia Guerra of Mission, Texas. They have two sons, Owen Carlton and Stephen Keith.