- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJames David Watkins
- James Watkins was born on March 7, 1927 in Alhambra, California, USA. He was married to Janet Tobin and Sheila Jo McKinney. He died on July 26, 2012 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.
- SpousesJanet Tobin(2000 - July 26, 2012) (his death)Sheila Jo McKinney(1950 - 1996) (her death, 6 children)
- Secretary of Energy under President George Bush, Watkins was a career naval officer with experience in nuclear technology and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Earlier, in 1987, had been appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the Presidential Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic to examine the AIDS crisis, and contributed to Reagan's controversial Strategic Defense Initiative.
- At the United States Naval Academy, Watkins was one class behind Jimmy Carter, who sometimes hazed him by forcing him to sing while standing on a chair in the mess hall.
- Brother of George Watkins
- Watkins was a deeply religious Roman Catholic father of six who had once called the military's ban on homosexuals "a sound policy.".
- In 2001, Watkins began chairing another presidential commission, with a mandate to establish a comprehensive national ocean policy.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content