- Running
- Avid Reader
- Anything outdoors, but especially hiking, fishing, and skiing
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- Personal Development and Self-Improvement
- Community Engagement
W. Jason Watkins
Fairchild AFB
Summary
Accomplished & results-driven senior executive with over three decades of distinguished public sector service. Proven expertise in strategic leadership, public administration, organizational development, & city-level management, leading base installations of up to 2,500 personnel and regularly managing $100 million+ budgets. Excels at curating high-performing teams, developing leaders, & achieving mission-critical objectives in high-stakes environments through the gritty discipline forged in the crucible of fighter aircraft training as an elite F-15E aviator and coalition-military leader. Adept at very tense negotiations across diverse positions.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
City Manager ׀ Commander, Air Task Force ׀ Colonel
US Air Force
07.2024 - Current
- Ensures the life support and sustainment of base personnel and their families, as well as $70M assets, in austere environments. Manages fire, police, civil engineering, telecommunication, air and ground transportation, human resources, contract negotiation, and leadership coaching of over two dozen key leaders.
- Established and led the Air Force’s first experimental wing, "Air Task Force," integrating a diverse, 65-person staff and 2,500+ Airmen into a scalable, combat-ready organization. "Biggest structural change effort in three decades" (former Vice Chief of Staff of the AF).
- Built partnerships with civic leaders, international leaders, business executives, and joint military organizations to strengthen community ties and mission readiness.
Dean, City Manager/Base Commander Prep Course
US Air Force
01.2024 - 07.2024
- Oversaw and evolved base commander leadership courses, including the Air Force’s emergency operations course and the crisis leadership courses. Taught over 2300 students per year executive fundamentals regarding natural disasters, mass casualty, force protection, disaster response, aviation safety, communication degradation, and immediate fire and police response actions.
City Chief of Staff, Expeditionary Wing ׀ Colonel
US Air Force
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Oversaw daily personnel-related complaints and resolutions. Implemented safety mitigation measures. Ensured beddown and sustainability of rotational equipment and forces (including a throughput of over 6000 servicemembers).
- Led a high-profile 10-person delegation consisting of US State Dept and US military officers to negotiate DoD interests with a Middle Eastern country on behalf of the United States.
- Directed crisis action and emergency response centers. Ensured protection of forces and equipment during several high-profile emergencies, including fire, disease outbreak, and base attack.
Dean, Executive Prep Course
US Air Force
06.2020 - 06.2023
- Oversaw a 2-year senior leader developmental education program for 13 senior-level executives while steering nine additional cohorts and achieving a 17% annual increase in student production. Transformed 802 executive leaders with unique "life-changing...battle reps in the human domain" per student feedback. 99.5% of students rated the course 4–5 stars (5 star-scale)!
- Produced a well-received "TEDx style" presentation entitled "Know your Team" that taught relational regulation to over 700 leaders.
Airport Director ׀ Commander, Operations Support
RAF Lakenheath
07.2017 - 06.2020
- Commanded USAF in Europe’s largest Operations Support Squadron, leading 26 officers, 184 enlisted, and 36 civilians to support 225 aircrew and 76 F-15C/D/Es.
- Enabled USAF in Europe’s largest annual Flying Hour Program, managing a $181M and 7,300 sortie program, and leading the squadron to multiple USAFE and Air Force-level awards.
- Drove a female flight gear fitment initiative, streamlining the acquisition process and cutting the timeline by 14 months.
- [Deputy Airport Director] 48th Operations Support Squadron, F-15E WSO RAF Lakenheath, UK
- 2017 – 2018
- Directed the operations of the squadron, synchronizing support for 11 partner nation exercises and 52 visiting aircraft avg/event, and serving as the common link for three consecutive Raytheon Trophy wins (best flying unit in the DoD).
- Coordinated negotiated $2M labor contracts annually to support flight operations and training.
- Coordinated negotiated $2M flight simulator contracts annually to support flight operations and training.
Planner, Int'l Gov't ׀ Chief of Strategic Plans
Canada NORAD Region (CANR)
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Chaired the CANR Strategic Plans section. Led long-range defense planning and strategic initiatives for the binational U.S.-Canada command responsible for aerospace defense of North America.
- Coordinated bi-national planning efforts for the Defense of North America alongside with senior US State Dept, DoD, and Canadian Ministry of National Defense officials.
- Authored and briefed strategic plans to senior executives, shaping regional defense posture and binational interoperability.
- Assistant Dept. Head, 333rd Fighter Squadron, F-15E WSO Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
- 2012 – 2013
- Managed supervisor of flying activities to ensure crisis and disaster response during aircraft emergencies. Zero loss of aircraft or personnel during my stint in this capacity from 2007 to 2013.
- Led curriculum design and instruction for seven F-15E aircrew syllabi. Primary F-15E instructor, including basic F-15E course, advanced senior officer courses, and F-15E instructor pilot and weapon systems officer courses.
F-15E Instructor Weapon Systems Officer (WSO)
US Air Force
01.1995 - 01.2012
- Multiple Department-Head roles: Compliance, Human Relations, Programming, Operations, Plans
- Ensured strict compliance with aviation safety and FAA guidelines.
- Managed workflow and the flying the schedule for 73 aviators, and 24 sorties per day.
Education
Doctoral Candidate - Education in Creativity and Innovation
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA01.2026
Master of Public Administration -
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OKMaster of Strategic Studies -
Air War College
Master of Military Operational Art and Science - undefined
Air Command and Staff College
Bachelor of Science - Aeronautics
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Operational Planning -
National Defense University
Norfolk, VASkills
- Executive Leadership
- Budgeting
- Crisis Management and Disaster Response
- Intergovernmental relations
- Organizational Change and Development
- Strategic Planning
- Public Speaking & Briefing
- Trust and Team Building
- Project Management and Leadership
- Conflict Resolution & Negotiation
- Creativity and Innovation
- Design Thinking
Affiliations
International City/County Managers Association - Member
Certification
- Executive Leadership Coach
- Accident and Safety Board President (fatality, mass casualty, and high-loss accidents)
- MBTI Certified Practitioner
- Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) - Senior Certified Professional
- Certified Project Mercury Professional Innovator
- Military Scrum Master
Interests
Timeline
City Manager ׀ Commander, Air Task Force ׀ Colonel
US Air Force
07.2024 - Current
Dean, City Manager/Base Commander Prep Course
US Air Force
01.2024 - 07.2024
City Chief of Staff, Expeditionary Wing ׀ Colonel
US Air Force
01.2023 - 01.2024
Dean, Executive Prep Course
US Air Force
06.2020 - 06.2023
Airport Director ׀ Commander, Operations Support
RAF Lakenheath
07.2017 - 06.2020
Planner, Int'l Gov't ׀ Chief of Strategic Plans
Canada NORAD Region (CANR)
01.2014 - 01.2017
F-15E Instructor Weapon Systems Officer (WSO)
US Air Force
01.1995 - 01.2012
Master of Military Operational Art and Science - undefined
Air Command and Staff College
Bachelor of Science - Aeronautics
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Doctoral Candidate - Education in Creativity and Innovation
Drexel University
Master of Public Administration -
University of Oklahoma
Master of Strategic Studies -
Air War College
Operational Planning -
National Defense University