James D. Watkins

Admiral James D. Watkins (March 7, 1927-) is a retired U.S. Navy officer and former Chief of Naval Operations. He has held several important political positions within the U.S. Government, including Secretary of Energy during the George H.W. Bush Administration. Watkins has also served on the boards of various companies and other non-Governmental organizations.

Watkins' important positions within the United States Government include:

Chief of Naval Operations during the Reagan Administration (1982-1986)

Chairman of the Watkins Commission on AIDS (1987-1988)

Secretary of Energy (1989 - 1993)

Chairman of the United States Commission on Ocean Policy (also known as the Watkins Commission) (2001-)

He has also served (and serves) several non-Governmental roles:

A Director of the Joint Oceanographic Institutions, Inc. (1993 - 2000)

A Director of GTS Duratek since April 1997

A Director of Southern California Edison Co.

A Director of International Technology Corp.

A Director of Philadelphia Electric Co.

A Director of VESTAR Inc.

Trustee, Carnegie Corporation of New York (1993-1998)

President of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (1994-March 2001)

Member, Naval Academy Endowment Trust Board of Directors

Life Member, USNA Alumni Association

Member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation

Biography

Naval Career

James Watkins graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1949 and received his master's degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1958.

Admiral Watkins spent 37 years in the Navy, serving on destroyers, cruisers and submarines, and shore assignments in personnel management.

During his tenure in the U. S. Navy, Watkins served as Chief of Naval Personnel, Commander of the Sixth Fleet, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and Commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet.

He has received the Distinguished Service Medal, several Legion of Merit medals, the Bronze Star with Combat V, and has been decorated and honored by several other nations including Brazil, Korea, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Pakistan and Sweden. Watkins was also inducted as a Knight of Malta in 1983.

Reagan Administration

President Reagan appointed Watkins as chairman of his President’s Commission on the HIV Epidemic. The Admiral won the support of many AIDS-awareness advocates when his conservative panel unexpectedly recommended supporting antibias laws to protect HIV-positive people, on-demand treatment for drug addicts, and the speeding of AIDS-related research.

George H. W. Bush Administration

On March 9, 1989, Watkins was sworn in as Secretary of Energy by President Bush Sr.

On June 27, 1989, Watkins announces the Ten-Point Plan to strengthen environmental protection and waste management activities at the Energy Department's production, research, and testing facilities.

In September 1989, Watkins establishes the Modernization Review Committee to review the assumptions and recommendations of the 2010 Report.

On November 9, 1989, Watkins establishes the Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management within the Department of Energy.

On August 15, 1990, Secretary Watkins announces plans to increase oil production and decrease consumption to counter Iraqi-Kuwaiti oil losses caused by the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait.

On March 4, 1991, he transmits the Administration's energy bill to the House and Senate.

On May 10, 1992, he testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee that for the first time since 1945 the United States is not building any nuclear weapons.

He remained in his position as Energy Secretary until 1993.

George W. Bush Administration

Admiral Watkins was appointed to what would be the second Presidential commission to be known as the Watkins Commission when named Chairman of the Commission on Ocean Policy in 2001.

Family

Admiral Watkins is the father of Catholic priest James Watkins, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Northeast Washington D.C.

Quotes

On President Reagan...

"Strong moral integrity, with an ever-confident hand on the national 'tiller,' best defined and guided President Reagan as I witnessed his Commander-in-Chief decision-making qualities,"

"Always with clear vision, firmness of purpose, no wavering in follow-through, and demonstrated moral courage, he made lasting decisions and expressed them in simple, understandable terms. What great respect and admiration we all had for our Commander-in-Chief,"

On the AIDS epidemic...

“Semen, blood, and ignorance surround this epidemic, and we were in that last category”